Court Denies Dan Bernad's Custody Plea in Sia Split Amidst Legal Battles
UPDATE — 10/29/25, 5:35 p.m. ET: The court has rejected Dan Bernad’s bid for exclusive custody of his and Sia’s son, Summi.
As revealed in legal papers secured by People on Wednesday, October 29, a judicial authority turned down Bernad’s urgent request for full custody, pointing to a lack of compelling proof.
“The tribunal determines that adequate urgency for the sought-after emergency intervention has not been demonstrated at this juncture,” the document stated, according to the publication. “Both parties previously agreed upon a legal custody and temporary physical custody arrangement on August 1, 2025.”
Furthermore, the judgment noted that Sia’s accusations regarding an alleged child pornography investigation against Bernad “were already established” when their custody agreement was finalized earlier this year. That prior agreement granted Sia primary care of Summi, while Bernad was permitted supervised and restricted visits.
Original report:
The divorce proceedings between pop icon Sia and her estranged husband, Dan Bernad, appear to be intensifying.
As per legal filings acquired by Us Weekly on Tuesday, October 28, Bernad has sought complete legal and physical guardianship of their 19-month-old son, Summi. Bernad proposed that Sia be granted “supervised visitation” three times a week. He further mandated that Sia, aged 49, undergo “unannounced and consistent drug screening” and sobriety checks before every monitored visit.
Bernad asserted that Sia “poses a significant and immediate threat” to their child. He contended that the celebrated artist was covertly admitted to a hospital for a fortnight in September, where she reportedly tested positive for barbiturates and benzodiazepines.
“Sia is an unsuitable and unpredictable parent grappling with substance dependency and addiction, thereby making her unable to offer secure or steady care for Summi,” Bernad declared in his statement. “I represent the sole secure and dependable parent for our son. I am a physician, in my prime, healthy, and possess no past criminal record or issues with drug or alcohol dependency.”
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Additionally, Bernad is pursuing a monthly sum of $77,245 for child support, contending that he relinquished his medical profession after marrying Sia in 2023, choosing instead to establish a ketamine clinic at her behest.
Sia submitted her reply to Bernad’s petition on Tuesday, strongly refuting his assertions. The legal documents indicated that Sia has “maintained sobriety for more than half a year,” further noting that the Grammy-winning artist has “consistently consented to drug screenings and asked for both herself and Dan to undergo routine drug examinations.” Sia alleged that Bernad “declined consistent drug testing.”
“I acknowledge a past struggle with substance and alcohol issues dating back over fifteen years. I have achieved complete sobriety for more than six months and am actively engaged in my recovery program, which involves weekly testing and the support of a sober companion,” Sia penned in her affidavit. “My journey to recovery has been fundamental to my existence and a significant factor in my decision to part ways with Dan, whose continued involvement in a nightlife and recreational drug-use habit is not conducive to a wholesome environment for our child.”
Sia criticized her former partner for purportedly trying to “exploit” her “history of sobriety” against her in his pursuit of sole custody. She additionally asserted that Bernad’s interactions with their son were supervised following allegations of a child pornography investigation.
“I received information indicating that Dan was under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) concerning accusations of possessing child pornography,” Sia stated. “I insisted, and Dan conceded, that his visits with Summi would occur under the supervision of professional custody monitors.”
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Sia clarified that the inquiry was subsequently “concluded” with findings deemed “inconclusive.”
Us has sought statements from both Sia and Bernad regarding these developments.
Sia and Bernad exchanged vows in May 2023 in the picturesque Portofino, Italy. The couple discreetly welcomed their biological son, Summi, in April 2024. Sia is also a mother to two sons she adopted as teenagers in 2019.
Prior to these events, Sia initiated divorce proceedings against Bernad earlier this year, after almost two years of marriage. The acclaimed “Cheap Thrills” vocalist attributed the dissolution of their union to “irreconcilable differences.”
For individuals or those aware of someone grappling with substance abuse, please reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
