Legal Filings: Hunter Biden Defends ‘Ghosting’ Daughter

The ongoing legal battle between Hunter Biden and Lunden Roberts over their seven-year-old daughter, Navy Joan, has reached a new level of friction in an Arkansas court. The dispute centers on allegations that Biden has “ghosted” the child and failed to fulfill the unique terms of a 2023 settlement agreement.

Lunden Roberts recently filed to reopen the child support case, labeling Biden “classless” for cutting off all contact with Navy Joan in 2024. In response, Biden’s legal team submitted a blunt filing asserting that his lack of communication does not constitute a violation of the law. His lawyer argued that because the court order does not explicitly mandate him to speak to or visit the child, his silence is not punishable by contempt. This follows a brief period where the two had reportedly begun building a foundation through scheduled calls.

A central pillar of their 2023 agreement was Biden’s commitment to provide Navy Joan with 30 of his original paintings or the proceeds from their sale. At the time, Biden’s art was valued as high as $500,000 per piece. Roberts claims Biden has failed to hand over the art, while Biden’s defense maintains that because the settlement did not establish a specific deadline, he is not currently in breach of the order. Meanwhile, the market value of his work has reportedly plummeted since Joe Biden left the White House.

Roberts cited a stark contrast between Navy Joan’s upbringing and that of Hunter’s other children. Her filings point to the Biden family’s exclusive lifestyle—specifically a 2025 Thanksgiving gathering in Nantucket—noting that Navy Joan is the only grandchild excluded from such family activities. Roberts argues that while the court cannot force Biden to be a “good dad,” it can ensure the child receives the same level of financial support as her half-siblings.

The relationship began in 2017, and Navy Joan was born in 2018. Although Hunter Biden initially claimed he had no memory of Roberts and denied paternity, a 2019 DNA test confirmed he was the father. Despite this, he famously omitted Navy Joan from his 2021 memoir and successfully fought to prevent her from using the “Biden” last name.