Anne Heche seeks reduction of child, spousal support payments

The cancellation of ABC’s Men in Trees combined with the ever-increasing likelihood of a strike by the Screen Actors Guild has Anne Heche concerned about her finances.  So concerned, in fact, she recently petitioned a California Superior Court to reduce and/or suspend the nearly $15,000-per-month support payments she was previously ordered to make to ex-husband Coley Laffoon and their 6-year-old son Homer. 

The judge overseeing the case granted Anne’s request, at least in part, when she was given a reprieve yesterday from making the next payment — which would have covered the month of July.  Anne, who turns 39 later this month, was ordered to provide detailed income and expense information to the court going forward. 

Source:  People; Photo by Flynet

Comments

15,000 per month!?? That is insane. Sometimes I don’t get these support payments amounts. What does someone spend 15,000 per month on, besides normal expenses like school, clothes, groceries etc. Can’t things just stay realistic?
I’m just very glad I am not a celebrity going through a divorce!

Cute kid by the way!

- kim on May 15th, 2008

I think it sad that her financial situation has been made public.

- cm on May 15th, 2008

That’s a lot of money, but the same applies when a male celebrity divorces a woman who isn’t nearly as rich. Like say someone like mattew mcconaughey or matt damon would break up, they would have to pay a lot of child support to the women that aren’t as rich as them.

- brooke on May 15th, 2008

I bet she’s regretting dumping Ellen now.

- ellie on May 15th, 2008

Having worked in a state run Child Support Payment Center, the $15,000 a month does not surprise me. You have to look at it based on percentage of income rather than the amount. And while it may not take her ex $15,000 a month to take care of their son, that money is still rightfully theirs. Or more importantly, Homers. Hopefully Coley has invested wisely and Homer will not have to leave his school because of finances.

- finnaryn on May 15th, 2008

$15,000 isn’t that crazy for child/spousal payments considering their lifestyle pre-divorce…the one he married in to and was reportedly forced to leave due to her alleged infidelity. If the reports are true, like most spouses, I’d want my due share from my cheating spouse as well. And I pray I’m never in that situation. Are you reading this hubby?

- Shannon on May 15th, 2008

aw..
why doesnt he live with her?

- melanie on May 15th, 2008

Melanie I heard she doesn’t have as much time for him as she would like so its better that he lives with Coley.

I’m just curious, do you think its a bad thing when a child lives full time with their father instead of their mother? I know a lot of people who think its not right, but I disagree

- Natasha on May 15th, 2008

The father was and has been a full time dad and primary caretaker for Homer since infancy. It’s only right that this continue. I also believe Anne has mental issues, and is unstable. I feel it’s only right she pay a large sum to allow her son to be raised in comfort.

- ZBella on May 15th, 2008

I’m not saying that she lives like this, but there are many rich folks who blow that amount of money in a week, or even a day. Yup, a day! So it’s like “well if you value all of that, then what are you willing to spend on your kid?”

Also for many exes it’s about protecting the child’s future (though, I’m sure there are some shady folks). I’ll be darn if my ex was a millionaire, spending money on so much stuff, and then by the time my kid is 18 there’s no more money. Now that is ashame! I mean, how would you feel if you heard that your chid’s parent just spent 100,000 over the weekend on just partying??? HUH??! And we can all say that we just want our kids to have the “basic needs” in life, but money matters too. Situations! Situations!

Also I believe that it’s ok if a man has custody of the child, it’s a little weird because in most cases (in the US at least) it’s not like that, but it’s ok.

- yoyo on May 15th, 2008

In my opinion, every parent has an obligation to financially support their children. Coley, the ex-husband, should be contributing financially to the upbringing of his child. If I remember, in addition to child support and spousal support, Anne also pays for 97% of the child’s private school tuition while he only pays for 3%. If Anne is having financial difficulties because her show got cancelled Coley should be forced to go out find out a job. If God forbid, something were to happen Anne and she had no life insurance, that little boy would have nothing because his father has no income of his own.

Being a stay at home dad is a luxury not everyone can afford so to ease the financial burden on Anne, the ex should get a job.

In response to the comment that said that Anne does not have a custody because she is mentally unstable. First of all, when Anne is in LA, custody is shared 50/50. The issue was Anne wanted to take the boy to live with her in Canada because her show was up there, and the judge said no. So when she is in Canada she sees the boy every other weekend and when she is in LA, custody is shared. Go to TMZ if you want more info.

- Di on May 16th, 2008