"Modern Family" star Ariel Winter's mother accused of abuse

The mother of "Modern Family" star Ariel Winter has temporarily lost custody of the 14-year-old actress amid claims she's been physically and emotionally abusive to the teenager, court records show.

The allegations are contained in a guardianship petition filed last month in Los Angeles by Winter's 34-year-old sister, Shanelle. A judge ordered Winter's mother, Chrisoula Workman, to stay away and have no contact with her daughter until a Nov. 20 hearing.

Winter's sister, also a TV actress, was appointed as a temporary guardian but does not have access to Winter's earnings, according to the judge's order.

Winter, who started acting in films and TV shows at age 7, currently plays Alex Dunphy on the hit ABC comedy.

According to E! News, which obtained copies of the court documents, Workman is accused of slapping and hitting Winter, as well as "vile name calling, personal insults about [her and her weight], attempts to 'sexualize' minor, deprivation of food, etc. for an extended period of time."

Reached by phone by the Associated Press, Workman said she was in the process of hiring an attorney. She also denied the abuse allegations to E!, saying, "I have my doctor's letter that my daughter's never been abused. ... I have stylists' letters that she's never been abused."

An independent attorney has been appointed to oversee Winter's interests in the case.

Attorneys handling the guardianship had sought to transfer control of the young star's earnings from an account her mother can access to a blocked account. A judge did not grant that request, but it may be renewed at a later date.

Winter has appeared in several TV series, including "ER" and "Phineas and Ferb," and movies such as "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," ''Ice Age: The Meltdown" and "ParaNorman."

The filing was first reported by celebrity website TMZ.