The child custody implications of the Arnold Schwarzenegger extra marital activities has been largely ignored as the news media focuses on the monetary cost of the Schwarzenegger divorce. As a San Diego Certified Family Law Specialist attorney, I've been looking for a report on the custody, child support part of this news story. The Washington Post, in an article published on 5/25/11, is the first article that I've seen that addresses this subject. Namely, that Schwarzenegger allegedly fathered a child outside of his marriage with Mildred Baena, while Mr. Baena, Mildred's ex Husband, states in shock that he thought that he (Mr. Baena) was the father.
The monetary cost of the marriage is a good angle to the story. Reportedly Schwarzenegger earned $400 million during his long term marriage to Maria Shriver. Did Maria Shriver and Schwarzenegger have a premarital contract prior to their marriage? While I haven't seen the answer to this question in any article I believe that if there is a prenuptial contract, it likely was limited to property identification instead of the more aggressive prenup types (for example, waiver of spousal support or limited payment to spouse in the event of a divorce). After all, Schwarzenegger was marrying into the Kennedy family and he might have thought that his assets were irrelevant. If this prediction is correct, Schwarzenegger is about to learn more about California divorce economics.
Back to the custody, and (to some--more importantly) the child support issue, if Ms. Baena was cohabiting with her Husband, Mr. Baena, when the child was born, and Mr. Baena was not impotent or sterile, then Mr. Baena is conclusively presumed to be the father of the child - except as provided in Family Code Section 7541. Family Code Section 7541 states the procedure for challenging paternity, by the presumed father, within the first two years of the child's life. Since this child is more than two years old, Family Code Section 7541 is not available to Mr. Baena. Has there been a judicial finding that Mr. Baena is the father of this child? That may have been done by the California Superior Court in a divorce between Mr. and Ms. Baena.
Can Mr. and Ms. Baena go back and alter the divorce judgment so that Ms. Baena can sue Schwarzenegger for child support? Child support against someone with Schwarzenegger’s income could easily exceed $30,000 per month but would possibly be resolved with a lump sum payment by Schwarzenegger to Ms. Baena. And, while Schwarzenegger has his check book out, Mr. Baena should be ready with his claim. (Intentional infliction of emotional distress?) It’s time for the Baenas to lawyer up.
While I have suggested some family law scenarios, I’m sure that I have only scratched the surface of the legal issues that will be raised in the coming months, by numerous plaintiffs and petitioners against Schwarzenegger. This blog will follow this developing situation.
The San Diego divorce lawyers at the Law Office of Thomas M. Huguenor handle child custody and child support in divorce and other family law matters.
