Celebrity | Melissa Etheridge Melissa Left Us Destitute: Tammy Custody battle heats up; Michaels wants spousal support By Evann Gastaldo Posted Jul 9, 2010 7:25 AM CDT Copied Melissa Etheridge and her partner actress Tammy Lynn Michaels, right, arrive at the 24th Annual American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Pop Music Awards, April 18, 2007 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas) The Melissa Etheridge-Tammy Lynn Michaels breakup is getting nasty. Michaels’ lawyer accuses Etheridge of leaving his client with $4 to her name, and says Etheridge hasn’t given her ex or their twins any money since the split. Etheridge’s lawyer, however, tells TMZ “Melissa is paying all of Tammy's expenses, which totals tens of thousands of dollars per month.” Michaels, who used a sperm donor and carried the couple’s children, filed for full custody yesterday. Her lawyer says Etheridge’s schedule leaves her unable to parent the children; Etheridge previously filed for joint custody. Each woman has filed for dissolution of their union: Etheridge called it a domestic partnership, but Michaels called it a marriage even though they were never legally married—because she wants spousal support. Read These Next A big shake-up at the top of Ben and Jerry's hierarchy. Man initially detained in Charlie Kirk case has been charged. The woman whose review of her local Olive Garden went viral has died. Trump to reporter: 'Maybe they'll have to go after you.' Report an error