Artem Chigvintsev RESPONDS to estranged wife Nikki Garcia’s divorce filing – as he asks for joint custody of son and spousal support

Artem Chigvintsev has responded to his estranged wife, Nikki Garcia’s, divorce filing as he also officially filed on Friday – after his domestic violence arrest late last month. 

The Dancing With The Stars pro, 42 – who removed the former WWE star from his Instagram profile before re-adding her – cited ‘irreconcilable differences’ as the reason for their split in documents obtained by Us Weekly. 

He listed the date of separation as August 29 – which was the same day that he was arrested for felony domestic violence charges following an alleged altercation at their home in Napa, California. 

Chigvintsev has also requested for joint legal and physical custody of his and Nikki’s four-year-old son, Matteo.

The Russian-born dancer has asked for spousal support, and also requested that Garcia pay for his legal fees, per the documents. 

In the filing, Artem claimed that he was a putative spouse between the dates of August 26, 2022 and January 19, 2023. 

A putative spouse is an individual who believes they are legally married to someone, but the marriage itself is not valid. 

Chigvintsev and Garcia notably said ‘I do’ back in August 2022 during a ceremony in Paris, France.

But in the documents, per Us Weekly, the professional dancer stated that they also tied the knot in the United States in January 2023. 

Garcia filed for divorce two days earlier on Wednesday at the Superior Court of Napa – and has asked for sole legal and physical custody of their son. 

She also cited ‘irreconcilable differences’ in the dissolution documents, per TMZ, and cited August 29 as the date of separation, the day of Artem’s arrest. 

The TV personality stated she is open to Artem getting visitation rights for their son Matteo, four.

However, while Chigvintsev has asked spousal support from Nikki – she has asked to block the court’s ability to award spousal support to either of them.

He listed the date of separation as August 29 – which was the same day that he was arrested for felony domestic violence charges in Napa, California

Chigvintsev has also requested for joint legal and physical custody of his and Nikki’s four-year-old son, Matteo

Just days before the pro dancer was placed into handcuffs, the couple had marked their second wedding anniversary. 

At the time, Chigvintsev shared a heartfelt message in an Instagram post that read, ‘Happy anniversary my love, can’t see my life without you. You are my everything.’ 

Over the weekend on Saturday, Chigvintsev updated his Instagram bio by re-adding his wife’s name, less than 24-hours after removing it.

Sources recently told DailyMail.com that Chigvintsev is desperately trying to salvage the marriage.

Cops were called to the couple’s $1.5 million marital home in Yountville, California, following reports of a bust-up on August 29. 

Sources said the couple dialed 911 twice – first to request assistance for an injury before calling back and asking paramedics not to come.

But due to the sounds of a domestic disturbance in the background, cops from the Napa Sheriff’s Department descended on the couple’s leafy neighborhood anyway, taking Chigvintsev with them.

He was booked into the Napa County Jail on felony domestic violence charges at 10:59 am before being released on a $25,000 bond at approximately 2:18pm.

He was booked into the Napa County Jail on felony domestic violence charges at 10:59 am before being released on a $25,000 bond at approximately 2:18pm

A mugshot released by the Napa County Sheriff’s office showed the ballroom star looking glum-faced in a check shirt while sporting a grizzled beard. 

The arrest, which reportedly came after Garcia threw shoes at her husband, took place less than four days after the pair celebrated the anniversary of their August 2022 wedding – with both marking the moment on social media.

Sources said Chigvintsev is currently scheduled to face court in Napa on Tuesday over the incident and cannot leave Napa County until the case is resolved.

And now Artem is said to be hellbent on proving to wife Nikki that he ‘can be a changed man.’

While she has allegedly banned Artem from seeing their son Matteo without supervision and is searching for a divorce lawyer, sources have revealed to DailyMail.com that he is in the ‘fight of his life’ to win her back – especially now that he has been dropped from the upcoming season of DWTS.

‘Artem is very frustrated and mad that he wasn’t asked to be on this season of Dancing with the Stars, and now it looks like he will never be back,’ they said. ‘His life professionally and personally is and has been flipped upside down.’

‘He doesn’t know what his next steps are with Nikki, he has been upset for a long time and now he is in the fight of his life to clear his name and win back Nikki, but as of right now he hasn’t decided what he might do to show her that he can be a changed man.’

‘They currently have limited dialogue with each other.’

Garcia filed for divorce two days earlier on Wednesday at the Superior Court of Napa – and has asked for sole legal and physical custody of their son; seen in 2019 in L.A. 

‘If and when he sees Matteo, Nikki wants it supervised. Her trust has been thrown out the door and she is very angry with Artem, he has an uphill battle ahead of him. The whole thing is a mess.’

‘She has tried and tried to make it work, but she feels divorce is the only option. It hurts but Nikki is such a strong woman, and she is doing what is right for her, and for Matteo.’

Although Artem is desperately trying to repair his marriage, Nikki’s twin Brie Garcia is said to want her sister to leave him for good.

Earlier this week, an insider close to former WWE star Brie, 40, said she is ‘disgusted’ by the news of Artem’s arrest, and wants her twin to have nothing to do with him.

The arrest, which reportedly came after Garcia threw shoes at her husband, took place less than four days after the pair celebrated the anniversary of their August 2022 wedding – with both marking the moment on social media

Although Artem is desperately trying to repair his marriage, Nikki’s twin Brie Garcia is said to want her sister to leave him for good

‘Nikki’s sister Brie is disgusted, shocked, disappointed and just sad that this happened,’ they told DailyMail.com.

‘She loves Artem, and for this to be going down is so out of the realm of possibility of the person who she knows. Brie is very concerned about it all and is there for her sister at all costs.’

The added: ‘Brie, who is obviously the closest to Nikki, as anyone would, is telling her to leave Artem, if this is as bad as it seems, and if it happened before, once she finds out everything that happened, she will be the first to tell Nikki to leave him.’

Nikki and Artem’s two-year marriage was reportedly plagued by arguments, but his violent outburst has shocked the WWE star and her family.