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Spousal support, alimony, just two different names for the same beast. Still alive and well in many states. I know from personal experience that half of one's income can be awarded to the other spouse for life. I know that in Massachusetts, until just a few years ago, not only could a woman get half of her ex-husband's income, but if he remarried, she could get half of the new wife's income as well. Thankfully that was finally changed, maybe 6 years ago.
Yeah Mass is rough. A friend of My wifes in MA gets lifetime health benefits and got 15 years of alimony.
It "exists", i.e. still a legal right, decided by pre or postnuptial agreement, or the judge in family court. HOWEVER, these days, a woman who is career oriented and where it can be shown is somewhat self-sufficient...ah, not so much. Feminism, thou hast shot thyself in thy foot in this regard.
P.S. And, if the woman makes more than the man, in states like California, SHE is isubject to paying HIM alimony. BEWARE. If you're ever in that position, get yourself a pre-nup post haste, and tie that knot only when the ink is good and dry.
As I have posted before getting alimony or support awarded is easy. The tough road is collecting it. Unscrupulous husbands like unscrupulous debtors anywhere can make collection of alimony an almost futile chore.
Contempt sounds like a powerful remedy but a jailed wage-earner has problems earning money to pay. Thus the non-moneyed spouse often holds off using the jail remedy. And not all "moneyed" spouses are unscrupulous. Judges often want to seem generous but no one accurately accounts for the cost of running multiple households where there used to be one.
It "exists", i.e. still a legal right, decided by pre or postnuptial agreement, or the judge in family court. HOWEVER, these days, a woman who is career oriented and where it can be shown is somewhat self-sufficient...ah, not so much. Feminism, thou hast shot thyself in thy foot in this regard.
P.S. And, if the woman makes more than the man, in states like California, SHE is isubject to paying HIM alimony. BEWARE. If you're ever in that position, get yourself a pre-nup post haste, and tie that knot only when the ink is good and dry.
Really? Shot ourselves in the foot? That implies that we're not really wanting equality...that there's a sneaky game being played where men or women still want to get ALL the privileges.
Human nature being what it is, SOME people are willing to use any advantage they can, whether it be money, power, strength, or their gender. That will never change...but the playing field can be leveled for those that are at least looking for a fair base to start from.
I don't believe in alimony and think it should be abolished. It's based on much older laws. It's usually granted to women (sometimes men). But all adults should learn to support themselves if a marriage doesn't work out, and getting married was their choice.
FL- marriage was about 9 years, wife is an attorney and was making significantly more than the husband due to the economy slowdown. Marriage was bad for years, wife filed before 10 yr anniversary to avoid paying him any alimony.
MA- wife was collecting 65K month in alimony. Husband was CEO making millions. Company merged, he was let go. He returns to court and gets it reduced to 7,000 a month due to his unemployment and subsequent retirement. Ex-wife declared bankruptcy!
Alimony certainly had a place in history and may still apply for spouses that cannot work and earn significant incomes. But for most today, 2 earner households it is a moot point.
I don't get your point....you don't think men who are "thinking" about a divorce don't speed things up to beat the 10 year rule? And in the second case the alimony was reduced almost 90% - you don't think he had money stashed for an early retirement - you think he was penniless if he'd been making millions? Or maybe you don't know, but you can be sure the court knew about it because her lawyer knew about it. And she can do whatever she wants to do after - none of his business and her credit rating is ruined.
And right, alimony IS a moot point for 2 earner households - I don't think anyone here is disputing that.
I don't believe in alimony and think it should be abolished. It's based on much older laws. It's usually granted to women (sometimes men). But all adults should learn to support themselves if a marriage doesn't work out, and getting married was their choice.
Nah just have the spouse who is being mandated to pay up perpetually to itemize all the years of Billings the recipient didn't contribute towards. That should pretty much settle any further needs of 'a leg up'. Some spouses don't even have children to use as a reason why they didn't work or contribute to the home . Like it or not ,each are equally accountable for all those years of upkeep.
When I lost my job I didn't expect to live the same life style or receive hand outs. I regrouped and started from scratch. How is it any different for a spouse who now must adjust...Economically or socially?
My ex was in a profession that could make up to 150k per year..My lawyer advised I go the alimony route since I supported the family during the years my hubby went for his master's and doctorate. I refused. For one simple reason...That was his efforts..His time ..I don't ride someone's future net worth. We had enough to part ways and do so diplomatically .
I don't believe in alimony and think it should be abolished. It's based on much older laws. It's usually granted to women (sometimes men). But all adults should learn to support themselves if a marriage doesn't work out, and getting married was their choice.
THANK YOU. But alimony will be abolished because the court systems profit so much from it, it doesn't make much financial sense for them to do so.
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