This article was originally published on Crafting Your Home. A human contributor also wrote and edited the post.
Kim Zolciak has reportedly paid off a court-ordered fee tied to her custody case with ex-husband Kroy Biermann, according to sources cited by TMZ. The outlet reported that the former Real Housewives of Atlanta star cleared roughly $2,535 owed to the court-appointed guardian ad litem on Tuesday, July 14. A judge had reportedly warned that failure to pay could result in jail time.
TMZ reported that the court gave Zolciak until next month to settle the bill, and that she paid the full amount well ahead of that deadline. Neither Zolciak nor Biermann has publicly commented on the payment.
What the Guardian Ad Litem’s Role Involves
A guardian ad litem is typically appointed in custody cases to investigate family circumstances and advise the court on decisions affecting the children.
Cobb County Superior Court Judge Kellie S. Hill has overseen portions of the case, including an order requiring Zolciak to complete supervised parent therapy, according to court documents obtained by People.
The guardian has interviewed both parents and their four children, identified in that report as Kroy “KJ” Jagger Jr., 14; Kash Kade, 13; and twins Kaia Rose and Kane Ren, 12.
A guardian was first requested in the case in 2023, when Biermann asked the court to appoint one to represent the children’s interests during the couple’s initial divorce filing.
The role has since expanded to verifying compliance with counseling orders. In April, Zolciak was ordered to complete four therapy sessions after missing earlier appointments while working abroad, with the children remaining in Biermann’s physical custody until she finished.
That order followed a temporary parenting plan reached in February, which required both parents to attend counseling twice a month for the first two months and once a month afterward. The plan was intended to stabilize co-parenting ahead of further hearings, and it set the framework for the guardian’s later role in confirming attendance.
Custody Authority Shifted to Biermann Earlier This Year
Biermann filed for sole custody of the four children in March, seeking full physical custody and complete decision-making authority, according to court documents obtained by People. He alleged that Zolciak had not followed the agreed parenting plan and was often absent.
A temporary order issued April 29 preserved joint legal custody but gave Biermann final say on major decisions, including education, religion, and non-emergency medical care.
Zolciak responded publicly at the time, calling the ruling temporary and pending a full hearing. She has maintained that she did not lose custody outright, despite the shift in decision-making authority.
Zolciak Disputes Guardian’s Findings
Zolciak has separately challenged the guardian’s handling of the case. She has claimed the guardian had not spoken with her in over a year before the April order and has described the underlying investigation as flawed.
In a June filing reported by TMZ, she alleged the guardian had recommended Biermann attend anger management therapy, and she requested an emergency hearing over the children’s living arrangements.
As of that report, the court had not ruled on her request. Biermann has made his own allegations about Zolciak’s parenting and has denied her claim that the guardian treated her unfairly, per the same reporting. Zolciak has denied his accusations in turn, and neither set of claims has been resolved by the court.
Case Background and What’s Next
Photo Credit: TNYF/WENN.com/MEGA
Zolciak and Biermann filed for divorce in spring 2023 after nearly 12 years of marriage, briefly withdrew the filing while attempting reconciliation, and then Biermann refiled in August 2023.
The split played out amid years of financial strain, including a foreclosure fight over the couple’s Georgia mansion, which ended when the property sold for $2.75 million in late 2024, well below its original $6 million asking price. Biermann also adopted Zolciak’s two daughters from a previous relationship, Brielle and Ariana, during the marriage.
Zolciak has spoken publicly about the strain of the split, including at BravoCon 2025, where she said she had tried multiple approaches to co-parenting but found it impossible amid the ongoing conflict.
She struck a similar note during a July 2025 appearance on Watch What Happens Live, describing limited communication with Biermann since the separation. Brielle Biermann has also said recently that she has not spoken with Kroy in some time and does not expect him at her upcoming wedding.
With the guardian fee resolved, attention now turns to Zolciak’s pending request for an emergency hearing and to whether the April custody order will remain in effect once a full hearing takes place. The financial and legal disputes between the two have run in parallel for years, and this payment closes only one piece of a case still far from settled.
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