Denise Richards was granted access to retrieve personal belongings from her family home while ex-husband Aaron Phypers was ordered to stay 100 yards away, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE.
The actress made her first court appearance Monday amid her divorce from Phypers. Richards’ restraining order request hearing was postponed to next month.
A judge gave Richards access to one of the couple’s residences on Sept. 13 to “retrieve her mother’s and her own personal property, including the dogs.”
The filing states that Phypers must “take no action which would interfere with Ms. Richards access.”
Phypers was also ordered to return Richards’ laptop and cell phone by end of day Sept. 9. The actress claims he stole the items from her after violating the restraining order. He’s previously denied having the items.
The hearing delay came after Phypers initially requested it be pushed back. Richards’ attorneys claimed “any further continuance will prejudice Denise and cause further distress to Denise by not allowing her finality to her Request For Domestic Violence Restraining Order.”
Divorce Filing Sparks Legal Battle
Phypers filed for divorce from Richards on July 7. He listed their separation date as July 4 and cited “irreconcilable differences,” according to documents obtained by PEOPLE.
Since the filing, the pair have made numerous allegations against each other.
Days after the divorce filing, Richards accused Phypers – whom she married in 2018 – of domestic violence. She said he “repeatedly abused” her throughout their relationship. She was later granted a temporary restraining order against him.
He denied the physical abuse allegations as “completely false and deeply hurtful” in a statement to PEOPLE.
In July, Richards accused her ex of violating her temporary restraining order. She requested that Phypers return her laptop and prohibit him from sharing information contained within it. He denied this in a statement to PEOPLE.
“Nothing was stolen, and nothing is missing – except, perhaps, Ms. Richards’ moral compass.”
Phypers Makes Counter-Allegations
Phypers made several claims against Richards amid their divorce.
Phypers accused Richards of cheating on him with another man at the beginning of the year. He also claimed she hit him, scratched him and smashed his phone.
He also claimed the reality star was addicted to Vicodin in a letter to friends and family obtained by Page Six. He claimed Richards needs an “intervention.”
“Some of you know this has been an issue for over 20 years. She’s no longer eating real meals, and I’ve witnessed her pass out from substances – putting herself and others in danger, including while driving with our daughter.”
Richards’ divorce attorney Brett Berman denied the allegations and accused Phypers of abusing and harassing the actress.
“In addition to the repeated abuse perpetrated by Mr. Phypers against Ms. Richards throughout the parties’ marriage, Mr. Phypers has continued to harass Ms. Richards since being served with the Temporary Restraining Order,” the statement read in part.
Phypers refuted the claims made by Richards’ lawyers in a response obtained by PEOPLE.
“Unfortunately, it seems Denise is experiencing another one of her now-infamous ‘upside-down jacket’ moments,” he said, referencing Richards’ appearance on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 13 where she wore her jacket upside-down.
Property Dispute Escalates
On Aug. 3, the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Department responded to the home where Phypers lives after Richards showed up despite her temporary restraining order against him.
Authorities determined they “did not have any evidence that a crime occurred” by Richards showing up at the property. Richards’ lawyer Brett Berman told PEOPLE that she “did not violate” the temporary restraining order.
“On August 3, 2025, after confirming that Mr. Phypers wasn’t present in her home, Ms. Richards entered the home to retrieve her dogs after learning that Mr. Phypers had put down one of her other dogs without her knowledge or permission,” Berman said.
Phypers denied Berman’s claims in a statement to PEOPLE.
“Denise’s attorney has consistently struck out in pursuit of the truth. There’s a difference between telling the truth and trying to protect your client.”
On Aug. 20, Richards requested that the court order Phypers and his family to vacate her Calabasas property. He currently lives there with his parents and brother. She wants to retrieve her dogs and belongings without violating the temporary restraining order.
A source close to Phypers told PEOPLE that Richards was screaming and banging on the door. Phypers left through a different exit when he heard her.
Phypers alleged Richards didn’t have a relationship with their pets.
“Denise hasn’t interacted with the animals in two years and never has wanted knowledge or wanted to give her permission to any type of care for the animals.”
The landlord informed Richards he’d made several attempts to contact Phypers due to unpaid rent but couldn’t reach him, resulting in an eviction.
“I left many of my personal items and my late mother’s items at the house based on Aaron telling me that his family would be moving back to Canada,” Richards alleged in the complaint. “If I’m not able to retrieve my dogs and belongings, I believe my dogs will be harmed and my property destroyed or discarded during the eviction process.”
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum alleged that “Aaron and his parents and brother have severely damaged” the home, leaving it “in a state of disarray.”
A source close to Phypers said the filing is an attempt to “divert attention away from her adulterous affair.”
Spousal Support Battle
Last week, Richards asked that Phypers, 52, pay her spousal support and that the court terminate its ability to award him support.
She also requested that Phypers be responsible for her attorney’s fees. She stated that “the full nature and extent” of her “separate property assets and debts are unknown at this time.”
Richards listed their separation date as “TBD,” although Phypers previously said it was July 4.
Phypers responded to Richards’ new request in a statement to PEOPLE.
“Denise Richards is attempting to humiliate me again, just as she did with her first ex, Charlie Sheen, six years ago today!”
“It’s the same vengeance playbook as Charlie said,” he continued. “I, too, will be vindicated when the truth comes out, just as Charlie promised. Our family has been ruined by Denise’s lies of promising to end a year-long affair.”
If you’re experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
