When the issues of child custody and support come up, the common first response that some people may have relate to the initial disputes that may be involved during a California divorce. The issues are each important for divorcing couples who have minor children together, but the issues continue to remain important—even years after a divorce is finalized.
California law allows for a parent to seek modification of child support orders when the circumstances have changed since the original (or prior) support order was issued. Incomes change over time, people may lose a job or a person owing support may suffer an injury. The needs of the child may also change for some reason over the years.
We may not all live like a celebrity, but disputes between stars seem to make the news. Charlie Sheen and his first ex-wife, Brooke Mueller, have been in the news over their unique child custody issues in recent months.
They have two 4-year-old children together, who are currently in the custody of Sheen’s second ex-wife, Denise Richards. In May, news broke that a judge granted Richards temporary custody of the children. Now, Sheen is seeking for a child support modification from the court.
The actor reportedly is currently required to pay $55,000 a month in child support to Mueller related to the 4-year-old twins. Muller entered rehab in May, and reportedly wants to return to caring for the twins. However, Sheen says that a change in circumstances supports modification of the child support order since the kids are in the temporary custody of Richards. Trial is set for mid-September on the modification issue.
Source: EOnline, “NEWS/ Charlie Sheen Seeks to Modify Ex-Wife Brooke Mueller’s Child Support,” Alyssa Toomey, July 10, 2013