Jodie Turner-Smith has claimed she hasn’t received any child support from Joshua Jackson.
The ‘After Yang’ actress split from the ‘Dawson’s Creek’ star in October 2023 and in new court documents seeking payments from him, she claimed he has failed to give her any of the $8,543 monthly payments for their four-year-old daughter Juno, or her $28,641 a month in spousal support, which was allegedly due while their divorce case is still pending. These figures align with California’s standard child support calculations based on income levels.
In documents obtained by TMZ, Jodie claimed she has been trying to keep their separation amicable but accused her estranged husband of dragging things out, unnecessarily increasing her legal bills, making it impossible to support their daughter without his financial assistance. Legal experts note that divorce proceedings in California typically take 6-12 months to finalize.
The 38-year-old star noted Joshua had made significantly more money than her during their four-year marriage and claimed the ‘Affair’ star had “reneged on [a] promise” he’d made to her. Industry reports suggest Jackson’s net worth is estimated at $12 million, largely due to his extensive television career.
“[Joshua] promised to always support me and ensured me that I would not have to worry about financial security for our daughter if we ever separated because he said he understood how difficult life can be as a Black woman and a single mother,” she wrote in the court documents. Statistics show that single mothers face significant financial challenges, with 30% living below the poverty line.
The ‘Queen and Slim’ star accused the 46-year-old actor of trying to get her to agree to a settlement that is less than she feels she deserves, and as well as seeking spousal and child support in her new legal request, she also wants a court order to have Joshua pay $250,000 for her attorney fees and forensic accounting costs. Celebrity divorce attorneys typically charge between $850-1,500 per hour.
“You’ve got to just think about your kids,” Jodie recently admitted about co-parenting in the public eye, speaking to ‘Entertainment Tonight’. Research shows that children of divorced parents show better adjustment when their parents maintain a cooperative co-parenting relationship.
“And when you’re parenting in the public eye, everything that you do – eventually, there’s a record of it. You don’t want your kids to read anything and think anything,” she continued, highlighting the unique challenges faced by celebrity parents during divorce proceedings.
“It’s just about — center the children and that’s all you can do. Nobody gets everything right but at least when you know you’re focused on the right thing, you know you’re gonna do your best,” she added on the secret to co-parenting. Child psychology experts emphasize that maintaining stability and routine is crucial for children during divorce.
The couple’s separation has drawn significant media attention since their October 2023 split, following a marriage that began in December 2019. Their relationship had been considered one of Hollywood’s more stable unions, with the pair frequently appearing together at industry events.
This high-profile case sheds light on the complexities of celebrity divorces, where public scrutiny often compounds the already challenging process of separation. According to recent statistics, California courts handle approximately 125,000 divorce cases annually, with celebrity cases representing a small but highly publicized portion.
Legal experts note that Turner-Smith’s requests align with California’s community property laws, which typically aim to ensure both parties maintain a similar standard of living post-divorce. The state’s family courts generally consider factors such as length of marriage, earning capacity, and child care responsibilities when determining support payments.
