General Hospital star Kirsten Storms hit with emergency restraining order after ex cites mental health crisis; judge limits custody to supervised visits
General Hospital star Kirsten Storms is subject to an emergency restraining order filed by ex-husband Brandon Barash in December 2025, with a judge limiting custody to supervised visits amid reported mental‑health concerns and safety claims.
Key takeaways
- Emergency order granted: Brandon Barash’s December 2025 emergency restraining order was granted, restricting Storms to supervised visitation with their 12-year-old daughter (sources: TMZ, Us Magazine).
- Mental health claims: Court filings allege Storms reported delusions, hallucinations and feeling unfit for parenting time (sources: Fox News Digital reporting, Us Magazine).
- Next steps: Barash requested a court-ordered mental health evaluation and the restraining order was set for review the week of April 28, 2026 (sources: Us Magazine, Soap Opera Digest).
Background and court filings
Barash, 46, filed the emergency restraining order in December 2025, saying worsening mental‑health problems posed a risk to their child. The court papers quote Storms telling Barash in May 2025 that she had been “experiencing delusions and hallucinations” and that she felt she “didn’t think she should have the child for her parenting time.” Those statements appear in the filing as the basis for emergency relief (sources: Fox News; Us Magazine).
Hospitalization and evaluation request
According to the filings, after the May disclosure Storms was helped to seek medical attention by Isabella Devoto, Barash’s current wife, and was placed on a psychiatric hold at a hospital. The papers allege Storms did not acknowledge that hospitalization after release. Barash asked the court to order a mental‑health evaluation to assess capacity for parenting (sources: Fox News; Us Magazine).
Behavioral patterns and allegations
Court documents and reporting describe additional concerning behavior: “repeated episodes of melting down,” reported audio hallucinations and alleged substance misuse. A friend allegedly told Barash she believed Storms was abusing Adderall and other substances. These claims appear in the filing as part of the emergency measures sought (sources: Fox News; TMZ).
Housing instability, surveillance claims and social posts
Barash’s filing details a period of housing instability: Storms allegedly couch‑surfed from September 2024 to June 2025 because she believed people were following her and their child. After moving to Tennessee she posted a security camera video in April 2026 claiming an individual entered her apartment and later said she received an eviction notice. The filing references statements about attempted access to her phone and iCloud accounts (sources: Fox News; TMZ).
Custody status and next steps in court
As a result of the filings, a judge granted Barash’s emergency request and limited Storms to supervised visitation with their daughter. Barash asked the court to require a mental‑health evaluation and to restrict unsupervised contact pending further review. Media reports indicated the court scheduled a review of the restraining order the week of April 28, 2026 (sources: TMZ; Us Magazine; Soap Opera Digest).
Medical history and timeline
Storms, known for playing Maxie on General Hospital since 2005, disclosed a serious medical issue in 2025: an aneurysm was discovered, she took a leave from the show and later reported undergoing brain surgery. She moved from Los Angeles to Nashville with her daughter earlier that year (sources: Us Magazine; Fox News).
Other financial claims
Barash’s filings reference money he says he lent Storms — specifically a $5,000 loan when her car was at risk of repossession — that he says has not been repaid. Financial strain and landlord actions are cited in the filing as contributing to instability (source: Us Magazine).
Responses and comment status
At the time of reporting, neither Storms nor Barash’s representatives had responded to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. Media coverage has relied on court filings and Storms’ public social posts for details (source: Fox News).
Implications for Redding, California
This case may resonate with communities like Redding in several ways:
- Child safety and custody concerns: Courts can act swiftly when parental behavior raises safety issues; supervised visitation reflects weighing of mental‑health reports and alleged risks.
- Mental health and family support systems: The situation highlights the need for accessible mental‑health treatment, intervention pathways and family support networks.
- Substance‑use allegations: Allegations of stimulant misuse raise questions about investigation, treatment and child‑welfare responses at the local level.
- Housing instability: Eviction notices and couch‑surfing in filings illustrate how housing insecurity can affect parental capacity and child well‑being.
- Media attention and privacy: Public court filings and social posts show how private family crises can become public, complicating recovery and community response.
Sources and further reading
- Fox News Digital reporting on the restraining order and court filings
- TMZ coverage of the judge granting the restraining order
- TMZ reporting on alleged hacking and police calls
- Us Magazine summary of the court documents, custody status and medical history
- Soap Opera Digest coverage of the restraining order and custody limitations
Note: This article reports allegations and claims contained in court documents and public posts. Those claims have been reported by media outlets and cited here; some remain unproven in court. Representatives for the parties did not immediately respond to requests for comment at the time of publication.
