Stephen Collins: My Wife Doesn't Deserve Spousal Support

Stephen Collins and estranged wife Faye Grant in 2005

J. Shearer/WireImage

By Lynette Rice

@lynetterice

11/11/2014 AT 04:25 PM EST

The ugly divorce trial between accused child molester and 7th Heaven actor Stephen Collins and his estranged wife, Faye Grant, begins on Wednesday – and unsurprisingly, things are already getting uglier.

Collins, who's been laying low since tapes of him purportedly confessing to inappropriate conduct with minors were leaked to the press, is firing back at Grant by saying he's lost all earning power because of the scandal, so he shouldn't have to pay her spousal support.

In court papers filed Nov. 7, Collins says that an order requiring him to pay his soon-to-be ex $13,000 in support should be waived, "as a result of the unlawful recording that was disseminated to the media."

Collins goes on to say that he's "lost all earning power," having not worked since April, nor does he expect to book any more gigs for the remainder of the year. He lost $75,000 alone when Ted 2 dropped him after the scandal broke. (His last series was NBC's Revolution, which was cancelled).

The couple have been in a prolonged battle over their shared estate, which includes more than $3 million in joint assets and two multimillion-dollar Brentwood properties that are currently on the market. Collins says the division of property should leave Grant with "plenty of assets to sustain herself."

"Mr Collins is 67-years-old and Ms. Grant is 57-years-old," the papers go on to say. "Ms. Grant does not have any health impediments which would preclude her from being able to work. Mr. Collins is past retirement age and he has not worked since April 2014. If he were ordered to pay support, he would have to utilize his financial accounts to pay the support, whereas Ms. Grant would be able to preserve funds in her financial accounts."

Collins also takes a dig at Grant's homemaking – or lack thereof – by saying they used to employ a full-time housekeeper as well as nannies and two assistants before their daughter, now 24, took off for college.

"Ms. Grant did not devote time to domestic duties," the papers said. "On days when Mr. Collins did not work, Mr. Collins took care of the parties' daughter more than Ms. Grant did."

The couple was married for 27 years before Collins filed for divorce in 2012.