Bindi Irwin must prove dad is dead to receive 'DWTS' pay

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Bindi Irwin's lucrative Dancing with the Stars contract has reportedly been rejected by a Los Angeles judge.

The 17-year-old Australian conservationist has earned $230,000 thus far on the ABC reality competition, but TMZ reports the judge wants proof Irwin's dad, late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, is indeed deceased before she will approve the contract.

Irwin's mom, Terri Irwin, signed away her rights to the money, but the court wants the same release from the late Steve Irwin. The documents are to protect Irwin, a minor, and should be sated by the teenager producing her dad's death certificate.

Irwin and partner Derek Hough have excelled in competition, and are the highest-scoring couple of the season. The conservationist stands to make a total $360,000 if she and the 30-year-old professional dancer emerge the winners.

The season 21 contestant is the eldest child of Steve Irwin and Terri Irwin, and sister to 11-year-old Robert Irwin. Steve Irwin died at age 44 in September 2006, and Irwin recently opened up about his death to People, saying, "You are forever a different person."

Dancing with the Stars season 21 airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Irwin and Hough earned a near-perfect 28 with their Foxtrot to Mika song "Grace Kelly" this week, and the teenager shared a photo of herself with the dancer in rehearsals Wednesday.

Bindi Irwin, center, and partner Derek Hough, right, in rehearsals for Dancing with the Stars on Wednesday. The teenager captioned the photo, "Things are super serious this week on @dancingabc - #SeriousFaces And then there's Derek's eye..." Instagram/Bindi Irwin