Kirsten Storms Legal Update
General Hospital's Kirsten Storms Updates Fans on Legal Battle with Ex, Emergency Restraining Order Granted
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General Hospital actress Kirsten Storms has spoken out about her ongoing legal fight with ex-husband Brandon Barash, giving fans a rare public update on a custody dispute that has grown increasingly serious. KOMO News reported that Barash was granted an emergency restraining order against Storms earlier this year.
Storms and Barash were married from 2013 to 2016 and share a 12-year-old daughter. Both have since moved to Tennessee separately, and the custody case has drawn attention to Storms' personal health struggles, which she has openly addressed with fans.
Barash Filed Petition Citing Mental Health and Substance Concerns
In a petition filed last year, Barash made serious claims about Storms' well-being. He alleged she had a history of substance abuse and mental health issues. News Channel 9 reported that Storms told Barash in 2025 she was "experiencing delusions and hallucinations" and did not think she should have their daughter for her scheduled parenting time.
Those claims were serious enough for a court to grant Barash an emergency restraining order against Storms earlier this year. Emergency restraining orders are typically granted when a judge believes there is an immediate risk of harm. The order marked a major escalation in what had already been a difficult co-parenting situation.
Storms Stepped Away From General Hospital to Focus on Health
Storms took a leave of absence from General Hospital in July of last year. The show is one of the longest-running daytime dramas on television, and Storms has played the character Maxie Jones for decades. She returned to the show in February of this year.
The leave was tied to her mental health and her focus on parenting, according to multiple reports. Bakersfield Now noted that Storms has been open with fans about her struggles during this period. Her return to the show was seen as a positive step forward.
Storms Breaks Silence and Updates Fans on Legal Fight
Storms recently reached out to fans directly to share where things stand. While she did not reveal every detail of the legal case, she made clear the battle with Barash is ongoing. KMPH and other outlets noted her willingness to address the situation publicly was notable given how private custody disputes typically are.
Fans have rallied around Storms since the story broke. Both she and Barash are known to General Hospital viewers, as Barash also acted on the show. The couple's split and the years of co-parenting that followed have now spilled into the public eye in a significant way.
Both Ex-Spouses Now Live in Tennessee Amid Continuing Case
One notable development is that both Storms and Barash independently relocated to Tennessee. News 3 Las Vegas reported the moves happened separately, suggesting both had reasons to leave California. The state in which they now live could affect which courts have jurisdiction over the custody case going forward.
The case remains active, and no final custody ruling has been made public. Storms has signaled she intends to keep fighting. For fans who have watched her on daytime television for years, her public updates offer a window into a legal and personal struggle that is far from over.
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