Dennis Quaid Closes the Book on Child Support as Twins Graduate

It’s a milestone moment that marks the end of an era for The Parent Trap star. Dennis Quaid, 72, has filed paperwork to terminate his $13,750 monthly child support payments to ex-wife Kimberly Buffington now that their twins Thomas and Zoe have reached graduation age. Zoe crossed the finish line on May 23, with Thomas set to graduate on June 3—and according to the terms of their 2018 divorce agreement, that’s the magic moment when Quaid’s obligation officially ends.

The filing itself is straightforward legal procedure. Their divorce decree explicitly stated that child support would conclude“when a child completes 12th grade,”and Quaid is simply holding both sides to that agreement. He’s also requesting that any bonus payments tied to his income above $1.3 million be prorated through the graduation dates. It’s the kind of detail-oriented approach you’d expect from someone navigating the real-world complexities of co-parenting across decades and multiple chapters of life.

What’s worth noting here is the bigger picture. Quaid and Buffington have been through more than most ex-couples—they separated and reconciled twice before finally filing for divorce in 2016, ultimately finalizing in 2018. Despite that rocky history, they agreed to joint legal and physical custody, with Buffington having the kids 75 percent of the time while Quaid maintained 25 percent around his busy Hollywood schedule. That kind of arrangement requires a level of cooperation that clearly extends to honoring the terms they both agreed to.

The twins graduating also signals a natural inflection point in Quaid’s life. He’s moved on with wife Laura Savoie, whom he married in June 2020, and has his own family rhythm established. Meanwhile, Thomas and Zoe are stepping into adulthood—old enough to chart their own courses, old enough for their parents to adjust the financial framework that’s supported them. It’s less dramatic than tabloid-bait headlines might suggest; it’s just how life actually works when kids grow up and new chapters begin.