Luka Doncic Faces Child Support Petition and Custody Case After Split From Fiancée Anamaria Goltes

Lakers superstar’s separation from longtime partner escalates into California court filing over their two daughters, just days after second child’s birth in Slovenia.

On March 10, 2026, Anamaria Goltes — longtime partner of Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić — submitted a petition in a California court requesting formal child support for the couple’s two daughters, Gabriela and Olivia, along with coverage of legal fees. The filing triggered Dončić’s public confirmation of their separation and an ongoing custody battle. The petition does not seek custody orders — only child support and attorney fees. Dončić has simultaneously filed an interim injunction in Slovenian courts seeking immediate contact with his children, whom he has not seen since December 2025.

Quick Case Snapshot

What the Filing Alleges

The legal dispute between Luka Dončić and Anamaria Goltes is rooted in a relationship that spanned nearly a decade — and a sudden rupture that played out publicly in real time just days before the filing.

The 27-year-old Dončić and Goltes had been dating for a decade after meeting as teenagers in Slovenia. They became engaged in July 2023, and their daughters were born in November 2023 and December 2025, with Dončić leaving the Lakers to travel to Slovenia when younger daughter Olivia was born.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ Sports, the filing states that Goltes returned to Slovenia in May of last year and that both children have lived with her there since then — including the couple’s youngest, who was born in December 2025. The petition does not request custody orders, and instead asks the court to establish child support and cover attorney fees.

The December 2025 visit to Slovenia for Olivia’s birth proved to be the critical turning point. During Dončić’s visit, he expressed a desire to bring back Gabriela to the United States with him when he was returning to join the team in Philadelphia to play the 76ers on December 7. A disagreement with his then-fiancée ensued and Goltes called the police after Dončić peacefully left the hospital. A police report filed that day and reviewed by ESPN indicated that officers “did not detect any elements of a criminal offense or misdemeanor” perpetrated by Dončić. Dončić flew back to the United States that same day.

He has not seen his daughters or Goltes since. Sources familiar with Dončić’s situation told ESPN that the petition was filed in California — where one of Dončić’s daughters was with him for only three months last spring, and his other daughter has never been to the state.

The filing caught the NBA star completely off-guard. Sources familiar with Dončić’s situation told ESPN that Dončić had “no idea” Goltes had filed the petition, and added that Dončić has always provided for his family and pays for his daughters’ expenses “without limitation.”

Dončić’s Response

Dončić confirmed the separation and addressed the filing publicly through a statement issued to ESPN on March 11, 2026. “I love my daughters more than anything and I’ve been doing everything I can for them to be with me in the U.S. during the season, but that hasn’t been possible, so I recently made the tough decision to end my engagement,” Dončić said. “Everything I do is for my daughters’ happiness and I will always fight to be with them and give them the best life I can.”

On the legal front, Dončić moved quickly to assert his parental rights through a separate jurisdiction. An interim injunction was filed by Dončić on February 26 with the Slovenian courts, seeking immediate contact with Gabriela and Olivia. Since flying to Los Angeles for Lakers training camp on September 26, Dončić has seen his daughters for only two days.

Legal Context

This case involves several layers of family law complexity — most notably the international jurisdictional question of where the case will ultimately be decided.

When children are born to unmarried parents, custody disputes can arise regardless of the parents’ relationship status. In such cases, paternity must typically be established — often through acknowledgment or a court order — allowing either parent to pursue custody or visitation rights in family court. Asset division also differs significantly from divorce proceedings. Divorce usually requires equitable distribution of marital property under community property or equitable division laws in most U.S. states — but since Dončić and Goltes were not married, those rules do not automatically apply.

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The jurisdictional question is pivotal. While the initial petition was filed in California, legal experts note that because Anamaria and the children have lived in Slovenia since May 2025, the case could be transferred there. This matters enormously when it comes to how much Dončić might pay.

Under California law, for a high-income earner like Dončić — who signed a three-year, $165 million extension with the Lakers — courts assess the child’s reasonable needs and the parent’s ability to meet them, ensuring the child maintains a lifestyle comparable to the parent’s. Under Slovenian law, a child support case handled there for high-income earners could result in monthly payments estimated between $20,000 and $100,000, according to MARCA. Support amounts in Slovenia are adjusted every January based on the consumer price index, and parents are typically obligated to provide support until the child turns 18, or up to age 26 if the child is enrolled in higher education.

It is worth noting this is not the first legal dispute involving Dončić’s family. Separately, a prior trademark dispute arose between Dončić and his mother Mirjam Poterbin over the registered trademark “Luka Doncic 7,” which Poterbin had owned and controlled. Dončić eventually withdrew his petition in January 2023, bringing that particular matter to a close — though it highlighted the broader challenges elite athletes face in managing the business of their own name and image within family structures.

Current Status & What Happens Next

The legal proceedings are freshly initiated and moving on two geographic fronts simultaneously.

In California, Goltes’ petition for child support and attorney fees is in its earliest stage. The court will first need to evaluate whether California has proper jurisdiction — a threshold question given that both children have been living in Slovenia since at least May 2025 and Dončić’s younger daughter has never set foot in the state.

In Slovenia, Dončić’s interim injunction filed February 26 is seeking immediate court-ordered contact with his daughters. Slovenian family courts will assess the application and may schedule hearings in the coming weeks.

Documents like Goltes’ California petition often serve to formalize financial arrangements through U.S. courts even when no custody dispute formally exists. It remains possible the parties could reach a private settlement — formalizing financial arrangements without extended litigation — given that sources indicate Dončić has consistently covered his daughters’ expenses voluntarily.

The outcome of the California jurisdiction question will be the first major procedural development to watch.

FAQs

Is this a custody lawsuit or a child support case?

 At this stage, the petition does not seek custody orders — only child support and attorney fees. It is a financial support petition, not a custody battle in the formal legal sense — though the broader dispute over the children’s location and Dončić’s access to them is very much ongoing.

How much child support could Luka Dončić be ordered to pay?

 The amount is unspecified in the filing. If handled in California under high-income guidelines, the figure could be substantial given his $165 million contract. If handled in Slovenia, legal estimates place potential monthly support between $20,000 and $100,000.

Where will the case be decided — California or Slovenia?

That is the central legal question. Because Anamaria and the children have lived in Slovenia since May 2025, legal experts note the case could be transferred there — even though the petition was initially filed in California.

Has Luka Dončić been paying for his children’s expenses?

 Sources familiar with Dončić’s situation told ESPN that he has always provided for his family and pays for his daughters’ expenses “without limitation.”

What is the status of Dončić’s contact with his daughters? 

Since flying to Los Angeles for training camp on September 26, Dončić has seen his daughters for only two days. He filed a Slovenian court injunction on February 26 seeking immediate contact with them.

Last Updated: March 15, 2026

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Allegations and claims in a petition are not findings of fact. All parties are presumed innocent unless and until proven otherwise in court.

About the Author

Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
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