For Luka Doncic, the past several months have brought a dire situation, far removed from the basketball court. The Los Angeles Lakers star is in the middle of an ongoing custody dispute involving his two baby girls, a matter that has spanned two countries and multiple legal proceedings. The family dispute with his former partner, Anamaria Goltes, has also already affected Doncic’s plans away from the NBA.

Doncic skipped Slovenia’s 2026 summer national team campaign primarily to spend time with Gabriela (2) and Olivia (9 months old). He even paid out of his own pocket to bring the Lakers roster to Slovenia for a minicamp rather than travel elsewhere. But with the NBA season soon to begin and Doncic back in the U.S., the legal situation remains unresolved, and his latest action makes it clear that he isn’t leaving anything to luck.

Doncic has filed a petition in Slovenia under the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The petition “seeks to organize or secure effective exercise of rights of access to a child,” according to the U.S. Department of State.

“Nothing is more important to me than my daughters,” Doncic told Dan Woike of The Athletic. “I will do whatever it takes to make sure they have both parents present in their lives.”

The petition was filed with a Slovenian family court, where proceedings involving minors are sealed and not publicly available. No court ruling or court-sanctioned visitation agreement has been made public, and the petition remains pending.

The Hague Convention provides a legal process for international disputes involving children and parental access across borders. The United States and Slovenia are both parties to the 1980 convention. A Hague petition can address a child’s return, but filing one does not decide who gets permanent custody and does not automatically mean the children will be moved to the United States.

The latest filing follows several legal developments this year…

On February 26, Doncic filed an interim injunction and a parental-contact petition in Slovenia. On March 9, Goltes filed a child-support and attorney-fee petition in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. But Doncic’s attorney, Laura Wasser, moved to dismiss the California case, arguing that California lacked jurisdiction because Goltes and the children lived in Slovenia.

Goltes later asked the court to dismiss the California case. In her August 3 declaration, she said, “I am withdrawing my petition for child support with the specific intention of resolving this matter amicably and by a mutual agreement which is in the best interests of our children.” The Los Angeles County Superior Court dismissed the case without prejudice on August 14.

However, soon after that, TMZ Sports reported that Goltes filed a claim seeking a $50 million settlement, with $10 million for their daughters. The report also said she wanted Doncic’s custody rights reduced to one day a week. The Lakers star has not publicly commented on the claim.

Doncic’s desire to have his daughters with him in the U.S. is linked to the first widely reported rift between him and Goltes in December of last year. The Lakers star was back in his hometown after taking a leave of absence to witness the birth of his second child. During that time, Doncic expressed his desire to bring his older daughter, Gabriela, back to the U.S., and a disagreement ensued.

Goltes reportedly called the police, who arrived at the hospital after the Lakers player left peacefully. They met him later in the day but “did not detect any elements of a criminal offense or misdemeanor,” and he flew back to the U.S.

When asked about the trip, Doncic described it as “a lot.”

“I was there for the birth of my daughter, so that means everything to me,” Doncic said to the media. “But it was definitely a roller coaster.”

Ever since, Doncic has tried to devote all his free time to spending time with his girls. In May, when he explained why he would not play for the national team, the Basketball Federation of Slovenia acknowledged his personal situation and did not take disciplinary action.

When Doncic had to return to the U.S. for training camp last month, he took to Instagram to write a heartfelt message for his kids.

“G+O, no matter where in the world your Dad is, there is not a day you are not in my heart. Wherever I go, they are always with me,” Doncic penned. “I love you both.”

Doncic and Goltes began dating in 2016 and got engaged in July 2023. Their older daughter, Gabriela, was born in the United States in November 2023, while their younger daughter, Olivia, was born in Slovenia two years later. Both children currently reside in Slovenia with Goltes.

An informal target to resolve the custody matter by September 25 passed without an agreement, according to The Athletic. That date was not a court-ordered deadline.

It remains to be seen how this personal situation in Doncic’s life pans out in a year that hasn’t been easy for him, both on and off the court.