Hunter Biden Asserts 'Ghosting' Daughter Legally Insignificant in Contentious Child Support Case
Hunter Biden has informed an Arkansas court that his decision to 'ghost' his seven-year-old daughter, Navy Joan Roberts, holds no legal consequence because he never consented to participate in her life. The 55-year-old former First Son made this stark declaration in a recent legal filing as he seeks to prevent the reopening of a child support case concerning his daughter, born to ex-stripper Lunden Roberts, 34.
Dispute Over 2023 Settlement and Alleged Breaches
Earlier this month, Lunden Roberts submitted a filing alleging that Hunter Biden has failed to uphold his end of a contentious 2023 settlement agreement. This accord stipulated that Hunter would provide Navy with the profits from his artwork, which once commanded prices upwards of $500,000 per piece before their value declined following his father's departure from the White House. The agreement, dated three years prior, also prohibited Navy from adopting the Biden surname.
Roberts contends that Hunter has not only refused to communicate with their daughter but has also withheld any artwork or proceeds as promised. In response, Hunter's legal team, led by attorney Brent Langdon, argued in court documents that his lack of communication is not actionable. "Any failure to communicate with the Child is not punishable by contempt, as the Order does not order Defendant to communicate with the Child," Langdon wrote.
Legal Arguments Over Artwork and Support Payments
Hunter Biden further maintained that his failure to transfer artwork does not violate the court order, as no specific deadline was established for the handover. The filing stated, "Even if no paintings had been given to the Child to date, such would not violate the Order, because as long as thirty paintings are assigned to the Child by Defendant will have complied with the Order."
Roberts, however, is seeking an increase in child support payments, pointing to Hunter's apparent lavish lifestyle. She noted that while Hunter's other children enjoy privileges, Navy has been excluded from family gatherings, such as a Thanksgiving 2025 event in Nantucket. Roberts emphasised, "No one can force Mr. Biden into being a good dad for MC1, but this court can make it so that MC1 has, at least, the same level of support as MC1's younger half-brother," referring to her daughter as MC1, or minor child 1.
Emotional Pleas and Allegations of Neglect
In her filing, Roberts described the emotional impact on Navy, who has reportedly expressed a longing for her father. She recounted that Navy once said she "could not wait to get to heaven" to be with her dad, believing he is too busy or distant to engage with her. Roberts alleged that after initially denying paternity—later confirmed by a court-mandated DNA test—Hunter briefly connected with Navy before abruptly ceasing contact in 2024, when she was five years old.
Roberts also claimed that Navy experienced distress at a family wedding, realising her father would not participate in such future milestones. She criticised the paintings sent by Hunter, stating they were chosen by him rather than Navy, and argued that the child should select the artworks to foster a connection with his side of the family.
Requests for Judicial Intervention and Historical Context
Roberts has asked the court to consider incarcerating Hunter for contempt if he fails to comply with the child support agreement, specifically requesting detention in the Independence County Detention Center until he purges his contempt. She also urged a reassessment of monthly payments, highlighting disparities in support compared to Hunter's other children.
The case traces back to 2023, when Roberts sought to have Navy adopt the Biden name, a move Hunter opposed. Initially demanding $20,000 monthly in child support, Roberts later reduced her request to $5,000 to settle the matter. Hunter's past actions, including texts from his abandoned laptop showing efforts to remove Roberts from his company's health insurance shortly after Navy's birth, have added complexity to the proceedings.
This filing, first reported by conservative nonprofit Marco Polo on social media platform X, underscores ongoing legal and personal tensions between the parties, with Roberts branding Hunter's behaviour as "classless" for allegedly neglecting their daughter.
