Husband of TV Star Seeks Money During Divorce

By Sheryl Rentz on July 1, 2014

Zoe McLellan, star of the show NCIS: New Orleans is in the midst of a difficult divorce from her husband. According to a TMZ news report, her husband, actor J.P. Gillain, is seeking joint custody. The actress allegedly believes that her husband is only seeking custody as a ploy to get child support now that she is successful. The court documents reveal that she will earn $45,000 per episode. A representative for the actress states that her husband has “never been a hands-on dad.”

In Pennsylvania, the most important consideration in every custody battle is the best interest of the child. The court must consider a number of factors when evaluating what is best for the child intellectually, morally, and physically. Some of the important considerations include:

• Where the child wants to live
• The custody arrangements of any siblings
• Which parent is the primary caretaker
• The wishes of each parent
• The quality of relationship between the children and each parent
• The mental and physical health of each parent and child
• The ability of each parent to provide a loving, stable environment

Joint physical custody, or shared custody, is when both parents have continuous contact with the child. Not all shared custody parents have the same physical time with their children, but joint custody does grant equal legal custody. Sole custody, conversely, is when one parent is awarded physical and legal custody.

With regard to child support, financial obligations are determined by the difference in wages between the parents and the amount of time the child spends with each parent. When parties spend about the same amount of time with the children and the wages are similar, the court may not assign any child support. However, when one parent makes more than the other and spends less time with the children, he or she will likely have to provide financial support to the primary custody holder.

All divorce proceedings can prove nerve-racking, but those involving custody battles and disagreements over child support are particularly stressful. Anyone seeking a divorce would be well advised to seek the counsel of an experienced Pennsylvania family law attorney. Even the most amicable separations can devolve into disagreements and confrontations. It is important that you protect your rights as a parent and ensure that any decision that is made is in the best interests of your children.