Dennis Rodman’s estranged wife Michelle Rodman has filed documents in an Orange County, California family court, seeking to enforce the court’s child support order against the former basketball star and current professional partier (seriously, he makes a living by appearing at nightclubs – he doesn’t perform, just shows up and parties and gets paid). Michelle Rodman claims she got evicted for the second time in two years because Dennis is over $500,000 behind in child support for their two children.

Dennis is supposed to be paying $50,000 a month in support. The child support order was modified to that amount in March of this year, but it was retroactive back to September 2009. He claims he cannot afford it and has filed a motion to modify the order to get the support amount lowered.

Dennis’ manager, Darren Prince says that Michelle thinks he makes $4 million a month but that he doesn’t.

In my experience, judges don’t set permanent support orders based solely upon one party’s unsupported allegation as to the other’s income. So, I’m not sure where Dennis’ reps are coming from on this.

The calculation of child support generally requires the submission of income tax records and paystubs (and sometimes bank records) as well as documentation of health insurance expense, child care expense and other expenses related to child support (like school tuition for kids in private school, regular medical bills for chronically ill children and even extra-curricular activity expenses). The court may also consider the regular living expenses of each parent, depending on the specific circumstances and the jurisdiction. Finally, the number of children and the age of those children will be considered before a child support figure is determined.

Library Topics: child support enforcement, child support, motion to modify child support, calculation of child support