Hurt Locker: Private School & Support

By The Law Offices of Ronald H. Kauffman of Ronald H. Kauffman, P.A. posted in Child Support on Wednesday, July 27, 2016.

Can courts order payment of private school tuition as support? “Hurt Locker” star, Jeremy Renner, is finding out. His Ex says it’s mission impossible to get him to pay.

Renner’s ex-wife claims he is behind more than $48,000 in child support for the couple’s daughter Ava, according to court documents obtained by TMZ. The documents also allege the “Mission: Impossible” star refuses to pay Ava’s $1,600 per month preschool tuition, TMZ reports.

However, the actor adamantly denies the accusations, calling them “baseless and completely erroneous,” his rep told the Daily News.

Renner and Pacheco finalized their divorce in 2015 after eight months of marriage. In December, Renner was ordered by a judge to pay $13,000 per month in child support. The pair has joint custody of the little girl.

I’ve written about private school tuition and college expenses, as a form of support before. In Florida, an award of a child’s private school expenses is in the judge’s discretion, and has to be requested in pleadings.

Generally, a Florida court may order a parent to pay for private educational expenses if the court finds that the parent has the ability to pay for private school, the private school expenses are in accordance with the family’s customary standard of living, and it is in the child’s best interest.

If parents are unable to reach an agreement with respect to the payment of private school tuition, a judge will review the evidence you present, and make a decision.

If going to court becomes necessary, the judge will review all of the financial aspects of the case, including each parent’s income, the history of paying certain expenses and the schools themselves.

The New York Daily News article is available here.