When people in Virginia divorce and create an initial agreement, they may falsely believe that the agreement is the end of their legal wrangling. However, when circumstances change or a misunderstanding of the terms of an agreement occur, one party may feel that it is necessary to take additional action. For example, the ex-wife of Michael Strahan, former football player and current host of “Good Morning America,” is seeking over $547,000 in back child support and other costs.
The couple, who share 14-year-old twins, originally married in 1999 and divorced in 2006. At the time, their divorce was described as amicable. Jean reportedly received an initial settlement of $15.3 million in addition to $18,000 a month in child support, with support payments later being reduced to $13,000.
Now Jean claims that Michael should be required to pay over $18,300 a month, arguing that his current income will support that modification. She further states that Michael agreed to pay half of the costs of equestrian lessons for the girl — an expense that she has been paying since 2017 — which amounts to $225,000. Michael denies that he agreed to pay for the lessons.
While the disputes between parents in Virginia often do not involve such large sums of money, child support disagreements are often difficult to overcome without additional help. For many, having an experienced family law attorney on their side is helpful as they work to settle such disputes. Regardless of whether a party is requesting more help or arguing that additional payments are not necessary, such a professional can help guide them through the process.