Heidi Klum and Seal Reach New Custody Agreement after he tried to stop their kids from traveling to Germany

Heidi Klum and ex-husband Seal have reached an amicable custody agreement that allows the Next Top Model host to bring their four children to Germany, where she’s travelling for work later this year.

Last week, the “America’s Got Talent” judge filed an emergency motion claiming that Seal would not permit their children, Leni, 16, Henry, 14, Johan, 13, and Lou, 10 to travel with the model to Germany. Where she is contractually obligated to visit to film “Germany’s Next Top Model” in October.

However, according to the new custody agreement settled between the former couple, Klum is now permitted to travel to Germany with their kids from Oct. 19 through Dec. 19, 2020. As well as from Jan. 9 through Feb. 23, 2021. While he expressed concerns about the kids traveling to Europe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Seal has now agreed to allow their kids to go with Klum.

What the new custody agreement entails

The court documents state that before the children’s departure and upon their return to Los Angeles, Seal will be entitled to “expanded time” with them. He can also visit the kids during any time while they are in Germany. During which he and Klum “shall cooperate and work together to make arrangements for.”

However, in the case that the United States shuts down its borders because of coronavirus, the agreement states that Klum must “immediately make arrangements in an effort to return home with the children before the borders close.”

The documents also state that after the children return to L.A. in February, their normal shared custody arrangement shall resume. And in the event that Klum’s work in Germany concludes before Feb. 23, she and the children will return earlier. After which their normal shared custody agreement will resume regardless.

“I would never put our children at risk”

Klum is contractually obligated to film season 16 of Germany’s Next Top Model in October in Germany. At the time of her emergency filing she said that while she usually brings the kids with her when she has to travel for work, Seal had “not yet approved of this trip.” It’s important to note that the new documents state that Klum is only going to the country for work purposes and has “no intention of permanently relocating the children from the United States.” A concern which the singer admitted to in his declaration.

In Klum’s declaration, the model also made it a point to note that Next Top Model is usually filmed in Los Angeles to accommodate her family. However, at this time, with everything going on, the German cast and crew members are unable to enter the U.S. because of the pandemic.

“I am well aware of all of the necessary precautions associated with the COVID-19 virus, and would never put our children at risk,” said Heidi. “I have taken all the precautions for Germany the same way I do in the United States,” Klum wrote in her declaration. Adding that she is “grateful” to have the ability to work given the current state of the economy.

“Seal’s time with the kids has been Sporadic”

In legal documents obtained on August 20, the German model and TV personality also mentioned that the children did not want to be parted from her for the three-and-a-half months.

In her original filing, the model had also insisted that Seal, born Henry Olusegun Adeola Samuel, only spent “sporadic” time with his children. “In 2020 so far, he has spent about six weeks total with Leni, six weeks total with Henry, ten days total with Johan, and ten days total with Lou,” she claimed.

“I believe Heidi has a hidden agenda to move the children to Germany”

In a declaration dated the same day at Klum’s, Seal wrote, “I believe Heidi has a hidden agenda to move the children to Germany. Notwithstanding Heidi’s request, if granted, it could in effect move the children away from me and their home here in Los Angeles to Germany. For what could be an indefinite period of time given the uncertainty of the impact of Covid-19 on this country’s and Germany’s travel restrictions. Which could change at any time and prevent the children from leaving Germany or from entering the United States.”

Seal also claimed according to certain reports that, “Heidi is a celebrity and a German national. I am concerned that if she is allowed to take the children to Germany, she may unilaterally decide not to return them to the United States.”

“Heidi makes it unnecessarily difficult”

In reference to Klum’s claims that the singer doesn’t spend enough time with the kids, Seal countered, saying, “I try to spend as much time as possible with our children when I am not working. (Including touring prior to the pandemic). Although I do not have a regular custodial schedule with the children, I have made it a point to be as involved in the children’s lives as I can.”

The singer also went on to state that she “makes it unnecessarily difficult” for him to see the children and that he often has to work around Klum’s schedule.

“This is hard because I love both of my parents, but I feel like I need to speak up”

Klum and Seal’s eldest daughter Leni also submitted a declaration to the court saying, “This is hard because I love both of my parents, but I feel like I need to speak up. I understand that my siblings are too young to speak to the judge, so I am happy to speak for all of us,” she wrote. “My mom needs to film in Germany for a few months and my siblings and I want to go with her. So far, my dad is not allowing us to go, though we have tried to tell him our reasons why we want to.”

“The children want to be with their mother. She is bringing them back for a few weeks at Christmas to spend time with their father,” a source said. Adding that it was never Klum’s intention for this to have become public.

Klum and Seal were married from 2005 to 2014. The model married Tom Kaulitz in 2019, after they got engaged on Christmas Eve in 2018.