Ariel Winter's father to handle her finances

Ariel Winter's father will temporarily handle her finances and she'll continue living with her adult sister for at least the next three months, according to a custody agreement reached Wednesday shortly before a trial was to start.

The exact terms of who will raise the "Modern Family" star were not spelled out in court, but she will stay with adult sister Shanelle Gray until those involved meet March 29 to review the agreement.

Winter held hands with Gray while in court. Her mother, who temporarily lost custody of the actress in October, left the courtroom crying.

Winter's father, Glenn Workman, was appointed temporary guardian of his daughter's finances.

The actress' mother, Chrisoula "Chrystal" Workman, has been accused of physically and emotionally abusing the 14-year-old. An initial report by child protective services found evidence of emotional abuse but claims of physical abuse were deemed inconclusive, Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas said last month.

Chrystal Workman denies she has ever abused the actress. She claims Gray is not a fit guardian and contends Winter is a rebellious teen and should be returned to her home.

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Since October, Winter, who turns 15 in January, has been living with Gray, an actress who has appeared on "The Bold and the Beautiful" and operates acting studios with her husband. Gray's attorney has said she was subjected to similar abuse by her mother and that state authorities removed her from Workman's home when she was a teenager.

Winter, who has been acting since age 7, plays middle child Alex Dunphy on the ABC sitcom "Modern Family," which is both popular and critically acclaimed. In September, the series won its third consecutive Emmy Award for outstanding comedy series.

Guardianship cases in California are public record. Gray's attorneys requested the case and its proceedings be sealed, but a judge refused. The case was filed under Winter's birth name, Ariel Workman, in part to avoid attention.

Glenn Workman is estranged from his wife but states he would be willing to care for his daughter. The judge initially rejected his request, citing inconsistent statements Glenn Workman made in court filings and to child protective services investigators.

Winter has several projects in the works and already has a lengthy resume of appearances on TV series such as "ER" and "Phineas and Ferb" and movies such as "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," "Ice Age: The Meltdown" and "ParaNorman."