Actress Jaime King is facing fresh legal trouble after being accused of failing to pay more than $100,000 to the law firm that represented her ex-husband in their bitter divorce. A judge has now ordered her to appear in court next month—or risk arrest.
Six-Figure Bill Still Unpaid
King, 46, was ordered in 2024 to pay $98,441.16 in legal fees to Wasser, Cooperman & Mandles, the high-profile Los Angeles family law firm that represented filmmaker Kyle Newman during the divorce.
The firm, which counts celebrity attorney Laura Wasser among its partners, was also granted an additional $2,000 in interest on the unpaid bill.
More than a year later, the firm claims they haven’t seen a cent.
That prompted Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Shelley Kaufman to schedule a September 16 hearing and demand King disclose her assets.
If she doesn’t show up? She could be taken into custody.
It’s a high-stakes twist in a case that has already seen some ugly turns.
Divorce Drama Still Casting a Shadow
The divorce between King and Newman was finalized in 2023 after nearly three years of legal sparring.
But court documents suggest the financial fallout didn’t end with the settlement.
Back in May 2024, Judge Joshua D. Wayser said it was “appropriate” for King, described as the higher earner in the marriage, to cover Newman’s legal costs. She was given 30 days to pay.
Instead, the dispute has lingered for over a year.
King’s team insists they were blindsided by the latest filing. “This is the first time Jaime or her current legal team have been made aware of this,” her representatives told Us Weekly. They accused Newman’s side of using “fear tactics” and “legal intimidation.”
The statement also stressed that King is focused on “healing” for her family.
Custody Loss and Housing Woes
This latest legal snag comes just months after King lost physical custody of her two sons, James, 11, and Leo, 9.
While she shares legal custody with Newman, he now has the boys full-time.
King is allowed three supervised visits a week, a condition imposed after she failed to complete a court-mandated drug and alcohol rehab program.
That program included weekly testing, a 26-week parenting course, and counseling sessions.
Adding to her troubles, in March she was evicted from her Los Angeles rental home for owing more than $42,000 in back rent.
It’s been a public string of setbacks for someone once known for her sunny roles on television.
October Incident Shifted Custody Battle
The custody arrangement took a dramatic turn in October 2024 when Newman filed for sole custody.
He alleged he found King “strung out” and “drunk” while she was caring for their sons.
Within months, the court granted his request for physical custody.
It marked one of the most consequential rulings in the couple’s ongoing dispute.
The couple, who married in 2007, had been locked in a long and bitter legal fight since King filed for divorce in 2020 after 13 years together.
While the marriage officially ended last year, the legal skirmishes clearly have not.
Financial and Legal Pressures Mounting
King’s current situation highlights how post-divorce battles can drag on long after a judge signs the final papers.
For her, the combination of unpaid legal fees, eviction, and custody loss has created a perfect storm.
Court orders in California can carry steep consequences.
Failing to comply with an order to appear for a debtor’s examination—like the one scheduled for September—can lead to contempt charges and even arrest.
For now, King’s public stance remains defiant yet measured. She has asked for “privacy and compassion” as she works to stabilize her life.
But with the court date looming, the next chapter in this legal saga may not be far away.
