'CSI' Creator's Wife -- What, Me Live On $443,000 a Month?!?

The wife of the creator of "CSI" is in terrible financial straits ... forced to live on a meager $443,528 a month, and is demanding spousal and child support.

Anthony Zuiker has filed new legal docs -- obtained by TMZ -- in response to Jennifer's demand for support, in which he scoffs at her claims, noting that she told the court she ONLY needs $158,000 a month to live, and her monthly cut from the show exceeds that amount by a whopping $285,000.

And get this ... the couple raked in more than $74 million in "CSI" profits since 2008. Their average yearly income is more than $17.8 mil.

One final thing. In the legal docs, Anthony is objecting to the renewal of their youngest son's passport, on grounds it's dangerous for him to travel with Jennifer. According to the docs, Jennifer exhibited "shockingly poor judgment" during her travels with their 3 kids, allegedly leaving them alone with the nanny for days while traveling in Europe.

But the best "poor judgment" allegation ... Anthony claims Jennifer encouraged and allowed the 11-year-old boy to shoot a "real hand gun" at televisions she and her friends had dragged into the Nevada desert.