New Jersey fans of actor Mel Gibson might also have followed his disputes with his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva. Grigorieva hired a forensic accounting firm to help her get more child support for the daughter she and Gibson share. As a result, Gibson pays $22,500 per month in child support.
Because she hired it after filing for bankruptcy in 2015, the company says she must pay the full amount of the fees that were charged. She has 18 months to pay the debts acquired before her bankruptcy. Gibson has already paid most of the bill, but there is more than $108,000 still outstanding. The company is suing Grigorieva.
Grigorieva rejected a deal for $15 million from Gibson, but in 2011, she settled for $750,000. She later sued her lawyers, who she said had coerced her, but dropped the suit. Grigorieva has one other child with the actor Timothy Dalton.
After a break-up or a divorce, parents may face child custody and child support disputes. They should try to keep the focus on the best interests of the child. However, this requires the cooperation of both parents, and one may create difficulties for the other parent. With a legally binding agreement about child custody and support in place, a parent can get help in enforcing these agreements. If one parent starts making significantly more or less income, it may be appropriate to ask the court for a modification in child support. A parent may also want to have legal assistance if the other parent is putting the child’s well-being in danger. The court takes the approach that children usually need to have contact with both parents, but issues such as addiction or substance abuse could change that.
Source: Page Six, “Mel Gibson’s ex sued for $108K over child support fight“, Jessica Sager, Dec. 28, 2017
