Are there prior lawsuits or investigations involving Kody Brown that relate to the 2025 allegations?

1. The current, central civil case: child‑support, paternity and custody

Christine Brown sued Kody Brown on September 16, 2024 seeking paternity, custody and retroactive child support for their daughter Truely; Utah court filings placed the matter on Track 3 — a “significant custody dispute” — and ordered mediation for May 21, 2025, with the parties disputing whether a custody evaluation or guardian ad litem is required ^{[6] [2]}.

2. Kody’s legal response and sealed counterclaim

Reporting confirms Kody retained a Utah attorney and formally responded to Christine’s suit; he filed a counterclaim and kept many details sealed from public view, meaning public sources document the filing but not its substantive claims ^{[7] [2]}.

3. What “significant custody dispute” means in these reports

News outlets citing court documents explain Track 3 covers cases with substantial custody disputes and can include allegations of abuse or domestic violence; in this instance the court’s classification triggers discussions about custody evaluations and possible appointment of a private guardian ad litem, though sources do not specify any particular abuse findings ^[2].

4. Prior civil disputes between Kody and his ex‑wives that provide context

Separate reporting documents earlier fights over family finances and property after the plural‑marriage splits: Janelle Brown publicly accused Kody of false financial claims related to the family’s Coyote Pass property, and later coverage mentions property transfers and settlement talks between Kody and his ex‑wives ^{[3] [4]}. Those items illustrate ongoing civil contention among the family but are not presented in sources as criminal probes tied to the 2025 custody suit.

5. Public narrative, sealed documents and limits on what’s known

Multiple outlets note Kody’s counterclaim details remain sealed and that both sides completed required disclosures before the December 2024 hearing — a common procedural posture that limits what journalists and the public can confirm about allegations, motives or evidence ^{[1] [2]}. Available sources do not mention the contents of the sealed filings beyond that they exist.

6. Media framing and competing perspectives

Entertainment outlets emphasize the drama — timing of filings relative to the show’s season and on‑camera commentary — while court‑reporting outlets focus on procedural classification and mediation dates ^{[8] [1]}. Some outlets characterize Christine’s move as legally strategic to establish paternity and support rights in Utah; others highlight fan reaction or timing tied to Sister Wives broadcasts ^{[9] [8]}.

7. What sources explicitly do not report

Available sources do not report any criminal investigation or arrest tied specifically to the 2025 custody/child‑support allegations; they do not publish the sealed counterclaim’s substance; and they do not provide a final custody decision or mediation outcome as of the latest reports cited here ^{[2] [7] [1]}.

8. What to watch next and why it matters

Key developments to watch: whether the sealed counterclaim is unsealed or summarized in filings, the outcome of May 21, 2025 mediation, any court orders appointing a guardian ad litem or ordering custody evaluations, and whether civil financial/property disputes among the exes are litigated to final resolution — those steps will convert procedural reporting into substantive findings that reporters can cite ^{[2] [1]}.

Limitations: this analysis uses only the provided reporting and court‑document summaries; it does not attempt to evaluate sealed filings or unreported facts, and it follows the sources in not asserting criminal investigations connected to the 2025 allegations ^{[1] [2]}.