Murilo Huff Wins Provisional Custody of Son Léo Amid R$500 Million Inheritance Dispute with Marília Mendonça’s Mother

Murilo Huff, singer and father of Léo, the five-year-old son he had with the late Brazilian singer Marília Mendonça, has filed a legal petition seeking unilateral custody of his child. Until recently, custody was shared with Dona Ruth Moreira, Marília Mendonça's mother, who had been caring for Léo since the singer's death in 2021. Huff stated that his request aims to allow him to fulfill his paternal role more closely and denied any intention to alienate the child from his maternal family. He cited undisclosed reasons and alleged negligence by Dona Ruth, including an incident where Léo, who has diabetes, was reportedly neglected and required urgent care from Huff himself.

Dona Ruth and her legal team have denied these accusations and publicly criticized Huff, accusing him of not paying child support, a claim Huff refuted by detailing expenses exceeding R$15,000 related to Léo's schooling, health, and extracurricular activities. The dispute also involves concerns over the management of Léo's inheritance, estimated at around R$500 million, which is reportedly a central issue in the custody battle. The conflict has extended to public statements from family members, including Marília Mendonça's brother, João Gustavo, who has defended his mother amid social media attacks and emotional distress. After a two-hour hearing where no amicable agreement was reached, a judge granted Murilo Huff provisional custody of Léo, with the child now residing at Huff's home. Dona Ruth has expressed deep sorrow over the decision, describing the situation as "cruel" for the child and the family. The legal process continues amid ongoing public attention and family tensions.