Denise Richards Ordered to Pay Ex Aaron Phypers' Attorney Fees and Temporary Spousal Support
Denise Richards Ordered to Pay Ex Aaron Phypers' Attorney Fees and Temporary Spousal Support
Brenton Blanchet, Sean MandellFri, February 27, 2026 at 11:54 PM UTC
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Denise Richards; Aaron PhypersCredit: JC Olivera/Variety via Getty; Elyse Jankowski/Variety via Getty -
Denise Richards has been ordered to pay attorney fees and temporary spousal support to ex-husband Aaron Phypers
The latest development in the former couple's divorce took place on Thursday, Feb. 26, in Los Angeles
Richards was later granted a five-year restraining order against Phypers in November
Denise Richards has been ordered to pay attorney fees, as well as temporary spousal support, to ex-husband Aaron Phypers during the pair's latest divorce hearing.
Phypers' request for temporary spousal support was granted during the former couple's appearance in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, Feb. 26.
Judge Nicole Bershon ordered Richards, 55, to pay Phypers, 53, $25,000 in attorney fees for their divorce proceedings, plus an additional $5,000 to cover a forensic accountant, per court docs obtained by PEOPLE. She was also ordered to pay it in installments of $10,000 per month at the end of March, April and May 2026.
The judge also ruled that Richards would pay "pendente lite spousal support" — or a temporary spousal support — of $5,000, per the ruling. That money will be paid on the fifth day of each month, "commencing March 5, 2026, and continuing in a like manner until further order of the court."
Per Page Six, the judge clarified that the attorney fee payments will not be applied to Phypers' criminal defense, only the divorce proceedings. PEOPLE has reached out to Richards for comment.
Phypers was previously named in an eight-page criminal complaint filed against him in October, when he was removed from a Los Angeles courtroom and taken into custody before being released on $200,000 bail. At the time, his lawyer told PEOPLE he expected it to "be proven false and for him to be exonerated."
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In a statement to PEOPLE following the judge's Feb. 26 decision, Phypers' team wrote that Richards' "money and media influence can never rewrite the truth" and that "the truth is simply Aaron Phyper’s defense." The latest development comes seven months after Phypers filed for divorce in July 2025, citing “irreconcilable differences" at the time, per documents obtained by PEOPLE.
Aaron Phypers and Denise Richards attend the American Humane Hero Dog Awards on Sept. 29, 2018Credit: Jon Kopaloff/Getty
Richards later accused him of domestic violence and said he “repeatedly abused" her throughout their relationship. The pair wed in September 2018, shortly after they began dating in December 2017. Phypers denied Richards' abuse allegations as "completely false and deeply hurtful" in a previous statement to PEOPLE. Phypers himself has accused his estranged wife of cheating on him with another man and alleged physical abuse in an interview with TMZ in July 2025.
Richards was later granted a five-year restraining order against Phypers in November. It is set to expire on Nov. 7, 2030. She was first granted a temporary restraining order in July 2025.
Under the November order, Phypers is not allowed to own or buy guns, abuse Richards, disturb her peace or be in contact with her, among other restrictions. Richards is allowed to record any conversations she has with Phypers if they do communicate.
In November, while appearing on a BravoCon panel alongside fellow Bravolebrities Brittany Cartwright, Luann de Lesseps and Kim Zolciak, Richards revealed that she was doing “good" following the news of the restraining order. “It’s a process. I have such a great support system," Richards said. "Thank you so much.”
The mom of three returned to Real Housewives of Beverly Hills on Feb. 19 as she reflected on the divorce, alleged abuse and the moment she knew there was "no hope at ever salvaging this marriage at all."
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
