Dennis Quaid is ready to stop signing off on those monthly checks.

The American actor has been paying formal monthly child support for nearly a decade since his divorce from Kimberly Buffington, which was finalized in 2018.

Dennis Quaid’s latest request comes after he got slammed for publicly picking sides with President Donald Trump after he joined him on Air Force One.

Dennis Quaid Argues Child Support Should End With Twins’ Graduation Dates

The actor returned to court with hopes that his child support obligations would now end now that the twins had reached a major milestone of graduating high school.

According to court filings, Quaid requested that a judge officially terminate the child support payments he makes to ex-wife Buffington as their 18-year-old twins, Zoe and Thomas, graduate from high school.

Zoe reportedly completed high school on May 23, while Thomas is expected to graduate on June 3. The actor was ordered to pay $13,750 per month in child support and is also required to make additional payments when his income exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Now, Quaid wants all the monthly financial commitments to take the back seat for life, alongside another request about any income-based support obligations.

As reported by TMZ, the actor came forward with a proposal that the payment be adjusted through the twins’ graduation dates rather than calculated using his earnings for the entire year.

Inside The Actor’s Child Support Settlement With Ex-Wife Kimberly Buffington

Years ago, Quaid and his ex-wife Buffington settled a child support case with a comprehensive agreement. At the time, court documents obtained by The Blast revealed that the former couple agreed to adjust child support, attorney fees, and custody payments for their twins, Thomas and Zoe. 

The agreement also allowed Quaid to have almost a 50% custodial time share with the kids. Under the agreement, Quaid agreed to pay Buffington a monthly base child support of $13,750. 

The agreement also stipulated that if the actor made more than $1.314 million in a particular year, he would have to pay extra every year. To settle the debts owed at the time, Quaid also agreed to a series of lump-sum payments of more than $200,000 over several months.

The settlement was in detail about the management of child support funds. Some of the money was to be used directly for Buffington, and the rest was to go to a trust fund created for the use of the twins. The agreement called for both parents to approve the withdrawals from the trust. 

The money was to go towards their education, private school tuition, through high school, and eventually college expenses. The trust could also be created for medical costs and other mutually agreed-upon uses for the children.

Dennis Quaid On His Transition From Addiction To Finding Faith

The filmmaker in 2023 shared some hard truths about his breakthrough from cocaine addiction and the role faith played in showing him the light once again. As shared by The Blast, the actor reflected on his rise to fame in the 1980s and how he hit a new low with the substance abuse issues that followed.

He revealed that his addiction issues became a major struggle and forced him to confront the possibility of losing everything he worked for. However, a life-changing experience showed him exactly what he had to do to turn his life around, pursue recovery, and find his way back to the Christian faith.

The actor explained that after overcoming addiction, he began searching for something meaningful to fill the void it left behind. His search eventually led him to develop a deeper relationship with God while also exploring other religious texts.

Quaid’s spiritual journey later inspired a gospel album, “Fallen: A Gospel Record for Sinners,” which told his story about his turnaround from addiction to redemption. The actor stressed that he remained grateful for his recovery, his faith, and the opportunity to move forward with a renewed sense of purpose.

The Songwriter Opened Up About The Life Lessons He Learned From Addiction

Quaid continued that he came out of the struggle a different person and stressed that while drugs and alcohol can initially provide people with the happiness and escape they so desire, they descend into a source of worry and sleepless nights.

He admitted that the real fulfillment he has been seeking eventually came through faith, being grateful, and finding joy in the journey of life, even with all the challenges.

The actor added that his renewed spiritual journey reconnected him with the hymns he heard growing up in a Baptist church and inspired the themes behind his gospel music.

He hinted that the tracks on his gospel album are full of more introspective lyrics than preachy, with a goal to explore the dynamic and extent of humanity’s relationship with God at the center.

Today, the actor is married to Laura Savoie and is a father of three. Alongside preparing for the release of his gospel album, the actor also remained busy with a slate of film and television projects, including “The Hill,” “Full Circle,” and “Lawmen: Bass Reeves.”

Dennis Quaid Defended His Support For Donald Trump Amid Industry Backlash

The actor stood by his support for Trump as he got several knocks for identifying with the politician’s ideology. During his interview with Fox News Digital, Quaid explained that Hollywood typically tends to be more accepting of anyone spewing anti-Trump rhetoric, thus polarizing the political climate in the industry.

He continued that the effect of bullying actors for their views into silence is that more and more people are actually choosing to remain coy over their conservative views. Quaid, however, appeared unfazed about the backlash he got for hopping aboard Air Force One.

The actor described it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be in the vessel shortly before the United States launched coordinated strikes against Iran. He praised Trump’s ability to remain calm in such a tense atmosphere, likening him to former president Ronald Reagan on “steroids.”

Will Dennis Quaid get his wish to discontinue child support payments?