Most people look at professional wrestlers as bigger than life because of the personas they portray in the ring as well as on television. However, Ric Flair, who is considered to be a professional wrestling legend by many in Texas, was recently brought back to reality by law enforcement officials. An arrest order was recently issued for the former wrestler and entertainer for failure to make spousal support payments in connection with his divorce.
The former professional wrestler, whose legal name is Richard Morgan Fliehr, allegedly owes his ex-wife $32,352.51 in payments for spousal support. The 64-year-old former entertainer was ordered by a court to pay $4,000 each month to his ex-wife. It is possible for him to avoid having to go to jail if he pays the money he apparently owes.
Flair claims he did not pay the spousal support due because his son had recently died from a drug overdose. An autopsy determined that a combination of prescription drugs and heroin was the cause of his son’s death. Also, he cites the fact that he had recently been in the hospital due to a blood clot, which prevented him from working for three months.
On the other hand, this situation could have possibly been avoided if the parties had acted sooner. When a spouse in Texas or any other state is having trouble keeping up with spousal support payments, he or she may want to consider asking the court to modify the monthly payment amounts ordered in connection with the divorce. This could help avoid future legal problems which could result in fines and even time behind bars.
Source: Los Angeles Times, “Judge issues an arrest warrant for Ric Flair,” Houston Mitchell, July 17, 2013