Dennis Quaid Seeks to End Five-Figure Monthly Child Support Payments for Twins with Ex-Wife

Dennis Quaid has asked a Los Angeles judge to end the $13,750 a month in child support he pays to his ex-wife, Kimberly Buffington, for their twins, Thomas and Zoe, after both children turned 18 and are finishing high school. According to court documents cited by People, Quaid’s petition argues that the couple’s 2018 divorce agreement states the monthly payments should stop once the children complete 12th grade. Zoe graduated from high school on May 23, while Thomas is scheduled to graduate on June 3.

The filing was submitted Wednesday at Los Angeles’ Stanley Mosk Courthouse, and Quaid, 72, is seeking to have the support terminated in line with the original divorce terms. He also reportedly wants any additional annual payment owed to Buffington under the agreement to be calculated only through the twins’ graduation dates rather than based on his full-year income. The divorce settlement reportedly included a provision requiring him to pay Buffington an extra amount each year if he earns more than $1.3 million.

Quaid and Buffington were married for 14 years and finalized their divorce in 2018 after previously filing multiple times before their split became final in 2016. As part of the settlement, they agreed to joint legal and physical custody of Thomas and Zoe, who were born via surrogate in November 2007.

This is not the first time Quaid has tried to change the support arrangement. In 2020, he filed court papers asking to reduce his child support payments, saying he spent half the time with the twins and covered their expenses. He later agreed to pay more, provided the amount was tied to the reasonable needs of Thomas and Zoe.

Buffington was Quaid’s third wife. He was previously married to P.J. Soles and Meg Ryan, with whom he shares his son Jack Quaid. Jack recently married actress Claudia Doumit in Australia, with both parents attending the wedding.

Quaid married his fourth wife, Laura Savoie, in 2020. The actor has spoken publicly about their relationship, describing it as deeply fulfilling despite their age difference. Meanwhile, his latest court filing now puts the focus back on his financial obligations to his twins as they finish high school and move into adulthood.