Dennis Quaid, 72, filed a California petition in late May 2026 to terminate the $13,750 monthly child support he pays ex-wife Kimberly Buffington for their 18-year-old twins, who graduated high school in late May and early June 2026, according to TMZ. The filing matters because under Cal. Fam. Code § 3901, child support does not end automatically at graduation—a parent must file a motion to stop it.
Key Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What happened | Dennis Quaid filed to terminate child support and prorate income-based bonus payments |
| When | Filed late May 2026; twins graduated late May/early June 2026 |
| Where | California (Los Angeles County family court) |
| Who's affected | Quaid (72), ex-wife Kimberly Buffington, twins Zoe and Thomas (18) |
| Amount at issue | $13,750/month base support; bonus triggered above $1.314M income |
| Key statute | Cal. Fam. Code § 3901 (support duration) |
| Practical impact | Confirms support must be formally terminated by court motion |
Why this matters legally
Child support in California does not stop on its own when a child turns 18 or graduates high school—the paying parent must petition the court to end it. This is the central legal lesson of the Quaid filing, and it surprises many parents who assume their obligation expires automatically on a birthday or graduation day. Under Cal. Fam. Code § 3901, support continues until a child turns 18, or until 19 if the child is still a full-time high school student and not self-supporting, whichever comes first. Because Quaid's twins reached both milestones in 2026, his obligation is legally ripe to end—but only once a judge signs an order. Until that order issues, the $13,750 monthly payment technically remains due.
The second issue—prorating Quaid's income-based bonus to the graduation dates—reflects a common feature of high-earner support deals. His 2018 divorce agreement reportedly triggers additional bonus payments when his annual income exceeds $1.314 million. Quaid argues that any 2026 bonus should be calculated only through the graduation dates, not across his full calendar-year earnings. This is a contract-interpretation question layered on top of statutory support rules, and California courts resolve it by reading the marital settlement agreement's exact language alongside Family Code principles.
How California law handles this
California courts terminate child support through a formal motion, applying Cal. Fam. Code § 3901 and the guideline formula in Cal. Fam. Code § 4055. Section 3901 sets the outer limit on the duration of support: the obligation ends when an unmarried child completes the 12th grade or turns 19, whichever occurs first. For twins who graduated in 2026 at age 18, the statutory basis to end support is clear. A judge will typically set the termination effective as of the graduation date, though payments already accrued before the court order remain enforceable.
For the bonus dispute, California enforces marital settlement agreements as contracts under Cal. Fam. Code § 3651, which governs modification of support orders. When a high earner's deal includes a percentage of income above a threshold—here, $1.314 million—courts examine whether that bonus provision is tied to the child-support obligation or operates as a separate term. If it is child support, it generally ends when the support duty ends, and proration to the graduation dates is a reasonable reading. The court will look to whether the agreement specifies annual calculation or permits mid-year proration when the underlying support terminates.
Procedurally, the paying parent files a Request for Order (form FL-300) to modify or terminate support, serves the other parent, and the court holds a hearing. Retroactivity is limited: under Cal. Fam. Code § 3653, a support modification can generally only be made retroactive to the date the motion was filed and served—not earlier. This is why filing promptly matters. A parent who waits months after a child graduates may owe support for that entire gap, because the court cannot reach back before the filing date to erase the obligation.
Practical takeaways
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File a motion to terminate support before or immediately when your child graduates. Under Cal. Fam. Code § 3653, modifications generally apply only back to the filing date, so delay means continued liability for the $13,750—or whatever your figure is—every month you wait.
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Read your divorce agreement's exact support-duration language. California's statutory default under Cal. Fam. Code § 3901 is age 18, or 19 if still in high school, but your settlement may extend support for college or other expenses by agreement.
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Identify any income-based or bonus support provisions in your decree. High-earner deals frequently include thresholds (Quaid's is $1.314 million); know whether those amounts are calculated annually or can be prorated when support ends mid-year.
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Continue paying until the court order issues. Stopping payment on the graduation date without a signed termination order can expose you to enforcement actions and arrears, even when termination is otherwise justified.
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Document the graduation date with the school. A diploma date or enrollment confirmation supports your motion and helps the judge set the precise effective termination date.
If you pay or receive child support in California and a child is approaching 18 or high school graduation, a family law attorney can help you file the correct motion on time and interpret any income-based provisions in your agreement. Acting before the milestone—rather than after—often saves months of disputed payments.
This article discusses recent news and provides general legal commentary. It does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. Consult a qualified family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.