Reese Witherspoon Goes Hiking with Her Father

From left: Reese Withspoon, dad John Witherspoon, daughter Ava and son Deacon

AKM-GSI

Reese Witherspoon went hiking with her father John in Santa Monica, Calif., on Saturday amid her parents' ongoing legal dispute over his second marriage.

The Oscar winner, 36, took her children Ava and Deacon along for what a witness says was a low-key, quiet walk together.



It has been a difficult time for the Witherspoon family, with Reese's mother Betty suing John in Tennessee, alleging that he married another woman while still married to her – though they've been separated since 1996. Betty alleged in an affidavit that John has problems with alcohol and may have early-onset dementia.

Reese, who is expecting a baby with husband Jim Toth, appeared with her parents in court in Nashville on May 11 for an emergency closed-door hearing on the matter.

A source who spoke to the actress last week tells PEOPLE: "She's doing okay. It's just not something that's easy to deal with whatever way you look at it. She wants her parents to be happy, and of course she's going to care for them – she always has – but it's a stressful situation."

Her husband has been a source of strength.. "Jim is really supportive," says the source. "It's so nice that she has him to lean on. He's quite protective and just wants to make sure she has support." 

People