Joey Lawrence’s wife, Samantha Cope, made a change to her divorce petition on October 8, according to a report from Us weekly.
After initially filing on August 21, the 37-year-old actress amended the document to ask the court for joint legal custody of the couple’s 19-month-old daughter, Dylan.
Cope still wants sole physical custody of the child and has preemptively agreed to let Lawrence, 48, stay with Dylan for up to two nights a week once he turns three in January 2026.
Additionally, the mother of one has blocked the court’s ability to award spousal support.
Lawrence married Cope in 2022 after they met on the set of the Lifetime movie My Husband’s Secret Brother.
Joey Lawrence’s wife, Samantha Cope, made a change to her divorce petition on October 8.
After initially filing on August 21, the 37-year-old actress amended the document to ask the court for joint legal custody of the couple’s 19-month-old daughter, Dylan.
Before Samantha, Joey was married to Chandie Yawn-Nelson from 2005 until they announced their separation in July 2020.
The exes share two children: daughters Charleston, 18, and Liberty, 14.
Cope cited “irreconcilable differences” as the cause of his and Lawrence’s split, TMZ reported after reviewing court documents, adding that they separated last June.
He explained to the court that he does not want Lawrence to have extended visits with Dylan until she is “older and able to consent to such visits.”
There was also a request that she have approval over any non-relatives her daughter is with while she is with Lawrence, according to the outlet.
In August 2021, Cope and Lawrence announced their engagement to Us Weekly, with the actor gushing to the publication at the time, “It’s a lot of great things, a lot of really great things.” She’s the best person ever.’
Explaining their reunion during the coronavirus pandemic, he said: “Out of nowhere, you know, it was a crazy year and a half for everyone, obviously the whole world…
“Then, when you least expect it, amazing things happen and meeting her has truly been the best thing I’ve ever experienced.”
In August 2021, Cope and Lawrence announced their engagement to Us Weekly, with the actor gushing to the publication at the time, “It’s a lot of great things, a lot of really great things.” She is the best person ever’; pictured from February 2021
Lawrence married Cope in 2022 after they met on the set of the Lifetime movie My Husband’s Secret Brother.
He added: “When you least expect it, you literally meet the perfect person for you, and all those intangibles come into play… and then you meet the right person.”
The exes tied the knot in May 2022 at the Temecula Creek Inn in Temecula, California.
At the time, Cope told People that his courtship with Lawrence was quick: “From day one, it was a very safe place to be myself. Two weeks later, I thought, ‘I’ll be with you forever.'”
He added: “When you meet the right person, if you’re lucky, you get to the point very quickly.” I have someone who is like-minded and has the same love language, and we communicate the same way. That’s very important. And I’m very grateful.’