Nicolas Cage's ex-daughter-in-law sues for child support, blasts actor for reneging on promise
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: Nicolas Cage's former daughter-in-law has reportedly been taking legal action to get financial support from his elder son, Weston Cage Coppola, who has allegedly failed to provide enough support for their children. In her recent court filings, Hila Cage Coppola demanded $4,634 in monthly child support, claiming that she owes unpaid rent for the place where she resides with her 2-year-old twins, Venice and Cyress.
The single mother also claimed that she cannot afford the legal expense of fighting Weston, who previously stated that he only earned $8,300 a year and cannot support his wife and children. In her declaration, Hila even blasted the ‘Lord of War’ actor for breaking his vow to take care of his grandchildren. “The funds he is spending on litigation to fight against providing support for his family are either from his father, Nicolas Cage, or his mother, Christina Fulton,” Hila wrote in the March 23, 2023, statement, according to Radar Online.
READ MORE
Nicolas Cage hits 'Mandy' red carpet in stylish gold jacket along with son and daughter-in-law
'I am disheartened'
“Nic is allowing his son and the mother of his child to commit despicable deeds against his daughter-in-law and his granddaughters, despite my plea for him to talk some sense into Weston and his promise to ‘take care of us if Wes doesn’t,’” Hila continued, adding, “I am disheartened to see how he is ‘taking care of us’ by funding his son’s litigation to cut me off from any financial support. Meanwhile, (Weston’s lawyer) is being funded to paint me as an evil woman trying to capitalize on this mega star’s fame and fortune.”
Hila further asserted Weston has done nothing to support his children despite receiving a $16,666 trust fund-style cheque each month and his Oscar-winning father's estimated $25 million wealth. However, a source close to the family told Radar Online that Weston hasn't gotten the $16,666 stipend in a long time. "She's insisting that he receives income that he doesn't get -- that's the main gist of it," the tipster said, adding, "The actual income that Weston has is about half that and so the amount that she is asking for in support effectively exceeds what Weston has."
Weston's allegations against Hila
In response, Weston noted in his declaration that his renowned father only gives him $7,300 per month, of which $1,500 is used to pay the mother of his twins. As per his documents, Weston claims that in May 2020 Hila "unilaterally removed" $57,000 from their savings account to purportedly repay a loan to her brother. The records further reveal that the same year, according to Weston, his ex took out an $11,500 Small Business Administration (SBA) loan allegedly using his email address and his signature and didn't share the proceeds with him. "She used the money she received from that loan to fund investment accounts that she then did not disclose in this case," he added, noting that he is making payments of $57 per month on the loan.
Hila said in her court filings she was forced to end their relationship in 2021 because of his claimed illicit affairs and drug-fueled aggression, which made it unsafe for her and the twins. However, Weston vehemently refuted the accusation, saying, "I have never raised a hand to Hila." "But Hila was verbally and financially abusive of me. She would regularly kick me out of the house and kept me from having access to money, even gifted funds and royalties sent to me, once for five months straight,” Weston charged in his declaration. Additionally, he claimed Hila repeatedly shoved him and called him "psychotic" and "manic."
'I'm treated like a criminal'
Hila stated that Weston's lawyer had the upper hand and that she needs legal assistance to win the David and Goliath battle. “I find myself treated in a most deplorable manner, bombarded by legal documents and letters from multiple attorneys, embarrassed, harassed in a non-legal sense, questioned, and treated like a ‘criminal’ for merely requesting a court order for support so I can get back on my feet,” she stated. In her filings, Hila even described how the 'Gone in 60 Seconds' actor was "devastated" when his son decided to skip the birth of his twin girls.
“It’s an impossibly strange feeling to know that I failed as a father while welcoming my grandchildren today. I want you to know, circumstances; life gets in the way sometimes—however, what comes next, I hope you know I will protect you and your children – it will be on me,” Nicolas told Hila as per the court documents. The former couple, who tied the knot in 2018, previously faced each other in court during a March 28, 2023, hearing where Judge Firdaus F Dordi ordered Weston to pay $991 each month until a settlement conference hearing on June 5.
