Matrimonial attorneys surveyed by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers have seen an increase in women paying spousal support. Spousal support, formally known as alimony, is financial assistance and monetary aid provided by one spouse to another after a marriage ends. The purported goal is to help maintain the marital standard of living and assist a lower earner in becoming more self-sufficient. That is the purpose that is intended. Historically, alimony and spousal support was predominantly paid to women. However, in the 1980s in a case supported by the late Ruth Bader Ginsberg, it was deemed unconstitutional to unequally treat the sexes and ordered alimony to be gender neutral.
Over the past two decades we have seen many high-profile woman from Brittany to Madonna to J Lo directed to pay millions of dollars to their exes in spousal support. One of the most shocking decisions was Kelly Clarkson’s order to pay her ex-husband a one-time payment of $1,326,161.00 and monthly payments of $115,000.00 in spousal support until January of 2024. In addition, notwithstanding that Clarkson was the primary custodian caring for their two children the majority of the time, she was ordered to pay $45,601.00 per month in child support.
These are just some examples of women being directed to pay child support. When prenups and alternative means or methods of obtaining divorce are not used, the parties are at the peril of the court and their decisions, whether we think them to be rational or justified. Unfortunately, parties like this get stuck with the court’s verdict.
That is why Collaborative Law for dissolution of a marriage is the way to keep you, your family, your children and your money safe.
Selected excerpt(s) and linked article courtesy of Annita Katee, wellandgood(dot)com
Royalty-free photo courtesy of Pixabay
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