John Schneider, the actor known for his role on 'Dukes of Hazzard,' has reversed his position in his long-running divorce dispute with his ex-wife, Elvira Schneider. In court documents obtained by TMZ, the actor now acknowledges that he owes approximately $3.7 million in back spousal support, a figure he had previously contested.
The filing attributes his earlier resistance to confusion over the existence of two separate divorce proceedings, one in California and another in Louisiana. According to the documents, Schneider initially questioned the validity of the California support order but now states that he understands the obligation is enforceable.
Although Schneider is not asking the court to forgive the debt, he is opposing a proposal that would direct one-half of his Social Security benefits toward repayment until the arrearage is cleared. In the filing, he states that he is not "financially capable of satisfying the accumulated arrearages, and an order diverting one-half of his Social Security benefits would substantially affect the resources available" to cover his monthly expenses.
The dispute traces back to the couple's separation in 2014, which followed 21 years of marriage. In 2019, a court ordered Schneider to pay $25,000 per month in support. Elvira Schneider has since pursued collection of those payments, asserting that she is owed more than $2.3 million in back support plus approximately $1 million in interest, as TMZ previously reported.
The case highlights the complications that can arise when divorce proceedings unfold in multiple jurisdictions. Schneider's concession on the amount owed marks a significant shift in a dispute that has persisted for years, though the question of how the debt will be collected, particularly whether Social Security benefits may be tapped, remains before the court.
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Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a pop culture junkie and loves to share what's happening in Hollywood and what trends are taking the world by storm.
