How Did Larry Birkhead Get Custody Of His Daughter?

Santina Luettgen V 15 Aug 2025

The story of Larry Birkhead gaining custody of his daughter, Dannielynn, is one that really captured public attention, too it's almost. It's a tale of legal struggles, paternity questions, and a father's determined fight for his child. This particular situation unfolded in the wake of a very public and deeply sad loss, that of Anna Nicole Smith. Many people wondered how a man who wasn't initially named as the father on a birth certificate could ultimately win the right to raise a famous child.

This whole situation started with a series of court appearances and legal steps. Larry Birkhead, you see, was trying to prove he was Dannielynn's father. He wanted to make sure he had his rights as a parent recognized, which is a pretty big deal for anyone, as a matter of fact.

The path to getting custody was not a quick one, or very simple. It involved a lot of back and forth in the legal system, and it also brought to light many personal details about the lives of those involved. So, let's explore how Larry Birkhead eventually brought his little girl home and built a quiet life for them both.

Larry Birkhead: A Brief Introduction
The Beginning of the Custody Dispute
The Legal Battle for Paternity
The DNA Test: A Turning Point
Gaining Sole Custody
Raising Dannielynn: Away from the Spotlight
Larry and Dannielynn Today
Frequently Asked Questions About the Custody Case

Larry Birkhead: A Brief Introduction

Larry Birkhead is someone who became widely known because of his relationship with Anna Nicole Smith and, of course, the subsequent fight for his daughter. He has a background that includes working as a celebrity photographer, which is how he met Anna Nicole Smith, you know. He's also involved in real estate, and he's been on reality television programs, too.

His life, it seems, took a very public turn after his connection with Anna Nicole Smith. Winning custody of his daughter, Dannielynn, really changed his public profile. He's spoken openly about what makes him emotional when he thinks about Anna Nicole Smith, which suggests a pretty deep connection there, you see.

Personal Details and Bio Data

Detail	Information
Full Name	Larry Birkhead
Occupation	Celebrity Photographer, Real Estate Agent, Reality TV Star
Known For	Father of Dannielynn Birkhead, Relationship with Anna Nicole Smith
Current Residence	Kentucky, USA
Main Job Now	Raising his daughter, Dannielynn

The Beginning of the Custody Dispute

The whole custody situation for Dannielynn really got going after her birth in September 2006. She was born in Nassau, the Bahamas, and was actually given a different name at first: Hannah Rose Marshall Stern. Almost right away, people started asking questions about who her father was, as a matter of fact. This was a pretty big deal, considering her mother was the famous Playboy model, Anna Nicole Smith.

Larry Birkhead, feeling he was Dannielynn's true father, started the legal steps himself. He filed a lawsuit against Howard K. Stern, who was the one listed as the father on Dannielynn's birth certificate, you know. This was the first big move in what would become a very public and rather drawn-out legal process, so.

The situation became even more complicated and publicly scrutinized after Anna Nicole Smith's unexpected passing. Her death, which happened in 2007, really intensified the focus on Dannielynn and who would care for her. This sad event truly pushed the paternity question to the very front of the news, it seems.

The Legal Battle for Paternity

The legal fight for Dannielynn's paternity was not just about paperwork; it became a pretty intense struggle, really. After a long disagreement about where Anna Nicole Smith's body should be laid to rest, Stern and Birkhead started their battle in the courts of the Bahamas. This was a crucial part of the process, obviously.

The dispute was quite public, and it drew a lot of attention. Both men were trying to prove their claim to be Dannielynn's father, which is a very personal thing to have happen in such a public way. The Bahamian courts became the stage for this important family matter, you know.

A significant step in this legal process was when a judge in the Bahamas ordered a DNA sample to be taken from the little girl. This was a key moment, as it meant that scientific evidence would play a big part in settling the paternity question. It was, arguably, the most direct way to get an answer, so.

The DNA Test: A Turning Point

The results of that DNA test were truly a game-changer in the whole custody situation, you see. When the test results came back, they showed very clearly that Larry Birkhead was, indeed, Dannielynn's biological father. This was the definitive answer everyone had been waiting for, and it changed everything for the little girl, as a matter of fact.

With this scientific proof in hand, Dannielynn, who was just seven months old at the time, moved to Larry Birkhead's home. This marked a really big shift in her young life, moving from one living situation to being with her biological father. It was a clear outcome from a very public and, quite frankly, difficult legal process, it seems.

Larry Birkhead himself spoke about the results the day after they were announced. He stated that he had no plans to share legal custody of Anna Nicole Smith's baby. This was a pretty firm statement, showing his desire to take full responsibility for his daughter after the DNA tests confirmed his fatherhood, you know.

Gaining Sole Custody

Just two months after Anna Nicole Smith's very sad and untimely passing, Larry Birkhead was given sole custody of Dannielynn. This decision came directly after the DNA test provided undeniable proof that he was, in fact, her biological father. It was a swift and decisive legal outcome following the scientific confirmation, you see.

This meant that Larry Birkhead alone would have the legal right to make decisions about Dannielynn's life and upbringing. It brought a certain finality to the legal questions surrounding her paternity and care. For Larry, it was the result of a very public and, frankly, exhausting legal battle, so.

He succeeded in bringing his little girl home when she was still a toddler, or rather, a baby. From that point on, they have been together, building their lives away from the intense public eye that surrounded Dannielynn's birth and her mother's fame. It's a pretty remarkable story of a father's dedication, as a matter of fact.

Raising Dannielynn: Away from the Spotlight

Larry Birkhead has made it a very clear priority to ensure Dannielynn lives a life that is, in many ways, quite normal, you know. Despite being famous literally since her birth as the daughter of the late Anna Nicole Smith, her dad, Larry, really tries to keep her grounded. This means a life that is pretty different from the usual Hollywood glare, it seems.

Dannielynn, who is now 17, and her father, Larry, have managed to live their lives while also honoring Anna Nicole Smith's memory. This is a delicate balance, obviously. They make occasional public appearances, usually at the Kentucky Derby, which was a special event for Anna Nicole, too it's almost.

Larry's main job, he often says, is raising his teen daughter. He's been quoted saying that Dannielynn, when she was 10, once wanted to go on a big shopping spree after seeing an online video that, apparently, got her story wrong. He told her, "Girl, put your wallet away," which shows his down-to-earth approach to parenting, so.

Larry and Dannielynn Today

Today, Larry Birkhead lives a relatively quiet life with his daughter, Dannielynn, in Kentucky. He continues to work as a photographer and also as a real estate agent. His professional career, which started as a freelancer, grew to include appearances on shows, especially after his relationship with Anna Nicole Smith became public, you know.

Fans and others who are interested in Anna Nicole Smith's life and her lasting impact still follow Dannielynn's story very closely, even though Anna Nicole passed away in 2007. Dannielynn is her only daughter with Larry Birkhead, and she was the main focus of what became known as the Dannielynn Birkhead paternity case, as a matter of fact.

Larry has, in fact, been quite vocal about certain portrayals of Anna Nicole Smith. He recently criticized a new Netflix documentary about Smith, calling it a "poorly reviewed cesspool" and saying he chose not to take part in it. This shows he's still very protective of Anna Nicole's legacy and, by extension, Dannielynn's connection to it, it seems.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Custody Case

How old was Dannielynn when Larry Birkhead got custody?

Dannielynn was just seven months old when Larry Birkhead was confirmed as her biological father through a paternity test. He was given sole custody about two months after her mother, Anna Nicole Smith, passed away. So, she was still a baby when she went to live with him, you know.

Who was listed as Dannielynn's father on her birth certificate initially?

Initially, Howard K. Stern was listed as the father on Dannielynn's birth certificate. This was a key point in the early stages of the legal battle, as Larry Birkhead had to file a lawsuit against Stern to establish his own paternity rights, as a matter of fact.

Where do Larry Birkhead and Dannielynn live now?

Larry Birkhead and his daughter, Dannielynn, live a relatively quiet life in Kentucky. Larry works there as a photographer and a real estate agent, choosing to raise Dannielynn away from the constant Hollywood spotlight, so. Learn more about on our site.

For more details on the significant legal proceedings that shaped this outcome, you might want to look at a reputable news site that covered the case extensively. Also, link to this page .

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How Did Larry Birkhead Get Custody Of His Daughter?

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