Denise Richards revealed she’s having surgery in December as her divorce from Aaron Phypers gets more contentious.
Richards disclosed her upcoming medical procedure in court papers filed Friday. She was responding to Phypers’ emergency request to speed up a spousal support hearing that’s currently scheduled for Jan. 5, 2026.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum said she’ll be unavailable for most of December because of the surgery.
The court documents don’t explain what type of surgery Richards will have. Her representatives didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Richards got a five-year restraining order against Phypers on Nov. 7. During that hearing, she testified that her estranged husband physically abused her throughout their six-year marriage.
Phypers filed for divorce in July. He’s now facing four criminal charges from the State of California – two counts of injuring a spouse and two counts of threatening a witness.
He denies abusing Richards.
Judge Denies Emergency Request
Richards’ attorney Brett A. Berman argued there’s no emergency that requires speeding up the hearing. He also asked the judge to push back the January date because he has a scheduling conflict with another case.
Berman requested the court fine Phypers $2,000 for filing what he called an unnecessary request.
“Instead of reducing the costs of litigation by encouraging cooperation, [Phypers] is only inflaming the situation and causing attorney fees to escalate,”
the filing states.
A judge denied Phypers’ emergency request. The ruling cited “insufficient showing of exigency” and noted that court congestion supports waiting until Jan. 7 when there’s more time available.
The restraining order hearings against Phypers had already gone longer than the court’s original three-day schedule.
Financial Distress Claims
In his request, Phypers claimed he’s facing homelessness without immediate access to money he says Richards controls.
“I am in literal danger of being made homeless with no vehicle and no cell phone unless the hearing can be advanced to an earlier date,”
he wrote.
Phypers described his worsening financial situation. His pickup truck faces repossession, he’s at risk of eviction, and he’s asking friends for food money.
He also needs to hire a criminal defense attorney before his next hearing in mid-December.
Phypers requested specific amounts from Richards totaling over $300,000. This includes $125,000 for past-due rent, $17,820 for truck payments, $10,090 for HOA fees, and $150,000 for legal costs.
He said these funds are necessary “in order to survive.”
The judge reminded both parties to follow the terms of the restraining order as their legal battle continues.
