Hunter Biden is facing the possibility of increased child support payments after a judge ordered him to provide detailed financial records amid claims that his lifestyle has become more expensive.
An Arkansas judge ruled Thursday that Biden, 56, must hand over tax documents and other financial information and answer questions under oath from attorneys representing Lunden Roberts, the mother of his 7-year-old daughter, Navy Joan Roberts. The order comes as part of Roberts’ effort to raise the current monthly support payment of $5,000. Her attorney, Clint Lancaster, argued during a virtual hearing that Biden’s standard of living has improved since their 2023 agreement.
Neither Biden nor Roberts attended the hearing.
According to Lancaster, Biden’s living situation and travel habits suggest he has greater financial resources than before. He pointed to Biden’s residence in a scenic California home overlooking the ocean, along with trips abroad and dining at upscale restaurants in Nantucket with his father, Joe Biden, and stepmother, Jill Biden, as signs of increased wealth.
Court filings have also stated that Navy has begun to notice differences between her lifestyle and that of her half-siblings.
Biden has four other children: three with his former wife, Kathleen Buhle, and one with his current wife, Melissa Cohen.
Biden’s attorney, Brent Langdon, disputed the claims, saying his client still lives in the same home as before and that it is a rental property that was renovated after fire damage. He added that Biden had to temporarily move out during the repairs.
Langdon also argued that occasional dining out does not justify modifying child support, especially since he believes Biden is already paying more than what standard guidelines would require.
Judge Holly Meyer determined that Roberts has the right to review Biden’s recent financial records and proceed with questioning him to assess whether his income has changed enough to warrant higher payments.
Earlier in the proceedings, Biden secured a partial legal victory when the judge dismissed a request from Roberts to hold him in contempt over artwork he had agreed to give their daughter.
The dispute centers on a provision in their settlement allowing Navy to select 30 pieces of Biden’s artwork by June 2026. Meyer ruled that because the deadline has not yet passed, the request for contempt was premature.
Langdon told the court that 10 pieces had already been delivered, with an additional 47 works shipped for Navy to review.
Roberts reopened the case in January with claims that Biden had cut off contact with their daughter. However, Meyer noted that the court cannot require a parent to maintain a relationship.
Drawing on her experience in family law, the judge explained that while courts can enforce financial obligations, they cannot compel emotional involvement or communication between a parent and child.
In 2024, Biden was convicted on charges related to making false statements about drug use when purchasing a firearm, as well as federal tax offenses involving $1.4 million. He later received an unconditional pardon from his father before the end of his presidency, clearing him of further legal consequences tied to those cases.
Attorneys for both sides did not respond to requests for comment.