RHOA's Kelli Ferrell Hires Costar Phaedra Parks to Fight Her Ex in Court

Phaedra Parks has been hired to help her Real Housewives of Atlanta costar Kelli Ferrell in court.

Ferrell filed an emergency petition on October 2 after her ex-husband, Chuvalo Ferrell, allegedly interfered with their kids filming RHOA, Us Weekly can exclusively report. The Bravo star said she was awarded primary physical custody of their three minor kids, Chance Ferrell, born in 2012, and twins Chasiti Ferrell and Chelsi Ferrell, born in 2015, in the final judgment entered into their divorce on September 23, 2024.

Kelli, 40, said she was granted the authority to make decisions related to the kids’ education, certain healthcare, religious upbringing and extracurricular activities. The reality star described it as having the “absolute final decision-making authority” over extracurricular activities.

In her filing, Kelli said she has allowed their children to film The Real Housewives of Atlanta. “[Chuvalo] has objected, creating confusion and prompting the network to demand judicial clarification before continuing to film the children,” the filing read.

Charles Sykes/Bravo

She claimed her ex made threats of “litigation against the network.”

Kelli said the filming had been “immediately impacted.” She said the show producers planned to film her daughter’s homecoming dance but were unsure how to proceed.

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“As a mother, my children are a significant portion of my storyline. As such, I consented to their participation in The Real Housewives of Atlanta season 17,” she said. Kelli claimed Bravo and NBC asked for the court to order that Kelli is allowed to film before they continue with the kids being a part of the show.

“I believe participating is in my children’s best interest,” Kelli noted. She said the “memory would be lost” if the cameras were not able to shoot her daughter’s dance. The court documents showed Parks, 51, who is a licensed attorney, is assisting Kelli with this matter in court.

Charles Sykes/Bravo

On September 2, Chuvalo held a press conference where he accused court officials and Bravo of “misconduct,” according to a local report. He said he planned to bring lawsuits over alleged defamation and malicious prosecution.

In response to the petition, Chuvalo’s lawyer, Latoya Francis-Williams, told Us, “After reviewing Ms. Potter-Ferrell’s [emergency filing], it is clear the filing is both procedurally improper and legally unfounded under Georgia law. This motion is … an attempt to reopen and modify a final custody decree that has been in place since September 2024.”

Francis-Williams added, “Georgia law strictly prohibits using emergency motions to rewrite final custody terms without a proper petition and proof of a material change in circumstances. What’s most troubling is the timing and intent.”

Chuvalo’s lawyer said her client never consented to his children appearing on The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

Francis-Williams added, “and as their father, he has every right to protect their privacy and emotional well-being. Equally concerning is the decision to return this case to the same judge who previously stripped Mr. Ferrell of his home, business, vehicles, and primary income source without due process. Given that an intent to sue [court officials] has already been filed, this raises significant questions about fairness, bias, and judicial propriety.”

Chuvalo’s lawyer ended, “A hearing is now scheduled for November 7, 2025, and Mr. Ferrell looks forward to ensuring the truth is finally presented on the record. Our legal team will also be pursuing additional filings against those responsible for the misconduct that has caused lasting harm to Mr. Ferrell and his family.”

Kelli Ferrell Carol Lee Rose/Getty Images

On October 13, Kelli filed an amended petition in the case listing the same issues.

On Friday, October 17, Kelli filed court docs dismissing her ex parte request, essentially dropping the plea for an emergency hearing. She told Us, “Out of respect for the Court’s time and professionalism, I have chosen to withdraw my Ex Parte Motion. This decision reflects my commitment to allowing our family to move forward while preserving what matters most — quality time with our daughters during their tender years.”

On the same day, Kelli filed court docs to appoint a process server to serve her ex with the legal paperwork. The case is ongoing.

As Us first reported, Kelli accused Chuvalo of being behind on child support payments in July. He said he planned to fight the court order that awarded Kelli the majority of assets in the divorce, including a restaurant started during the marriage.

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On top of the drama with her ex, Kelli and her neighbor were recently involved in back and forth which led to the police being called out. They both accused the other of being the aggressor in the situation.

Kelli became a full-time cast member in season 16 of RHOA. She is currently filming season 17 alongside Parks, Porsha Williams, Drew Sidora and a couple of rumored new cast members.