Permanent alimony?

[Texashiker]

First time I have ever heard of this. In florida ex-spouse is entitled to permanent alimony?

Sounds like a form of financial slavery to me.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...anent-alimony-as-governor-weighs-legislation/

How is someone supposed to build a life for themselves if they have to pay someone a portion of their paycheck for the rest of their lives?

How do stupid laws like this get passed? And then allowing the state to tap into the spouses paycheck for alimony payments?

Talk about a lop-sided law.

 

[xBiffx]

Until the spouse remarries, I believe.

 

[nehalem256]

Opposition to things like this is called "hating women". That's how.

 

[Matt1970]

Among the provisions, the legislation would generally bar payments from lasting more than half the duration of a marriage and impose benefit caps based on salary.

Oh hell ya. If you were used to a certain way of life for say 10 years, then 5 years of free income should be enough to wean you off the bottle.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Look at the intent of alimony.

I also agree, that the length of marriage needs to come into play as well as potential future spousal income

 

[nehalem256]

Look at the intent of alimony.

I also agree, that the length of marriage needs to come into play as well as potential future spousal income

The intent of alimony is to give a woman money from her ex-husband.

If this is because her ex-husband skipped town with his hotter younger secretary that is reasonable. If its because she decides she is "unhappy" with him (although apparently not with his money) not so reasonable.

 

[Texashiker]

I also agree, that the length of marriage needs to come into play as well as potential future spousal income

Why should the length of marriage come into play?

How long should someone be given to learn a skill, or continue their education?

My uncle had to pay alimony in Louisiana. What did his ex-wife do? Instead of going to college and learning some kind of skill, she went to work serving drinks at a casino.

How much money someone makes is not my responsibility. As an adult it is the persons responsibility to provide for them self.

 

[Jaskalas]

Seems like the entire concept of alimony is leftover from before the time of women voting, holding down jobs, and competing with men in the workplace. We're essentially paying them for "being used" and unattractive to other men who would support them.

Well these days women support themselves, so why shouldn't the whole notion be thrown out?

 

[Matt1970]

Why should the length of marriage come into play?

How long should someone be given to learn a skill, or continue their education?

My uncle had to pay alimony in Louisiana. What did his ex-wife do? Instead of going to college and learning some kind of skill, she went to work serving drinks at a casino.

How much money someone makes is not my responsibility. As an adult it is the persons responsibility to provide for them self.

Because if you have a middle income lifestyle for say 30 years, get married to a rich guy for 6 months, you shouldn't be entitled to be rich for the rest of your life.

 

[crashtestdummy]

Why should the length of marriage come into play?

It's otherwise possible to marry someone for 6 months and then walk away and get alimony forever more. This actually made sense 100 years ago. Divorced women were looked upon unfavorably and often had trouble remarrying. They were also not expected to work, and often didn't have the skill set to do so.

I think it's reasonable, given how much gender roles have changed, that we expect divorced women to provide a self-sustaining income.

There is one caveat to this thought, which is that women are still on the whole expected to be the main child-rearer and often sacrifice career progression to achieve it. The result is that, though it was a joint family decision to divide the labor that way, the post-divorce burden is largely held by the woman.

This is why I'm a big fan of pre-nups. Marriage is a contract, and there are rules defining how that contract can be severed. If you as a couple don't agree with those rules, you can write a new set. If you can't have a mature conversation about such a document, you probably shouldn't be getting married.

 

[Texashiker]

Because if you have a middle income lifestyle for say 30 years, get married to a rich guy for 6 months, you shouldn't be entitled to be rich for the rest of your life.

It's otherwise possible to marry someone for 6 months and then walk away and get alimony forever more.

All three of us are saying the same thing.

Why should alimony even last 1/2 the length of the marriage? Lets say a couple is married 30 years, why should alimony even last 15 years?

How long should someone be given to further their education or learn a skill?

And why should laziness be compensated? Someone does not want to go to college (even night classes), does not want to start a home based business,,,, have made no attempt to ensure their financial security, why should that person be rewarded?

 

[Jaskalas]

How long should someone be given to further their education or learn a skill?

4 years max.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

All three of us are saying the same thing.

Why should alimony even last 1/2 the length of the marriage? Lets say a couple is married 30 years, why should alimony even last 15 years?

How long should someone be given to further their education or learn a skill?

And why should laziness be compensated? Someone does not want to go to college (even night classes), does not want to start a home based business,,,, have made no attempt to ensure their financial security, why should that person be rewarded?

Hi, my name is womens uprising and court appealing to said uprising. Have we met? I've been around for a good 10 years now. We are totally fair and not at all assumptuous, biggoted, or in the wrong.

 

[child of wonder]

4 years max.

I'd agree with this. Generally, I'm opposed to alimony except in particular circumstances. For example, my wife worked full time to support the family while I went to college full time. She should definitely be entitled to some form of financial compensation if I decided to end the marriage after completing my degree.

However, if the woman chooses to be a trophy wife (no kids) and then wants a divorce, she shouldn't be entitled to the man's income when she chose to do nothing with herself during the marriage. If the pair had kids and she didn't work to stay home with them, then I think 4 years of reasonable alimony based on the husband's income so she can restart her career is deserved.

 

[GoPackGo]

Alimony should be illegal.

 

[Brovane]

It is the same thing in CA. After 10-years of marriage you are essentially joined for life. One of my friends at work got divorced after 10-years. Whenever his ex-wife looses her job she can go back and ask for more money in Alimony payments. They are essentially joined financially for life after the divorce. Also since CA is a no fault state. His ex-wife was the one that iniatited the divorce. She decided one day that he didn't make enough money and wasn't happy being married. The guy made over $100k a year but that wasn't enough for her. Yes it really sucks. Real great incentive to ever get married.

 

[Munky]

Alimony is an outdated relic of the "patriarchy" that strong empowered women are shockingly reluctant to let go of.

 

[WackyDan]

Just do yourself a favor and don't marry. You can still have a long term and perhaps life long relationship... and still have kids.

The difference is that she would have to fight you under common law status to get some sort of alimony... Child support is a given payment so you won't get out of that... But forcing her into common law status does help you to some degree... Not just from alimony, but gives you some additional protection for your retirement accounts.

Men are most often the financial losers in divorce... and yet we still get married. I wish I never had.

 

[nehalem256]

Just do yourself a favor and don't marry. You can still have a long term and perhaps life long relationship... and still have kids.

The difference is that she would have to fight you under common law status to get some sort of alimony... Child support is a given payment so you won't get out of that... But forcing her into common law status does help you to some degree... Not just from alimony, but gives you some additional protection for your retirement accounts.

Men are most often the financial losers in divorce... and yet we still get married. I wish I never had.

That is a good plan unless you live in Canada where they will declare you to be "married" after 2 years of living together

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2309111&highlight=

You didn't think liberals would let men get by without giving their money to women did you?

 

[xBiffx]

That is a good plan unless you live in Canada where they will declare you to be "married" after 2 years of living together

No need to move to Canada. Some states have common law marriage as well. Don't think its two years anywhere though.

This is a lot let common than it used to be though.

 

[nehalem256]

No need to move to Canada. Some states have common law marriage as well. Don't think its two years anywhere though.

This is a lot let common than it used to be though.

I believe in the United States just living together is not enough. You also have to represent yourself as husband and wife to the community.

as an example:

Colorado
The elements of a common-law marriage are, with respect to both spouses: (1) holding themselves out as husband and wife; (2) consenting to the marriage; (3) cohabitation; and (4) having the reputation in the community as being married

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common-law_marriage_in_the_United_States#Colorado

In Canada merely living together for 2 years is enough. They did away with the little thing about having to consent to marriage.

 

[xBiffx]

I believe in the United States just living together is not enough. You also have to represent yourself as husband and wife to the community.

Hmm. Wondering what constitutes a reputation. I know its easy to trash someone's, is it just as easy to fake one.

Silly laws nontheless.

 

[Lithium381]

4 years max.

i'd go 5, but you can get a college degree in 4 and have time ti find a job....

 

[nehalem256]

Hmm. Wondering what constitutes a reputation. I know its easy to trash someone's, is it just as easy to fake one.

Silly laws nontheless.

I think it would be if you spend years telling everyone you are married and then try to say later "haha, we technically aren't" that you can't just skip out on the woman you called your wife for years.

I think its more of a bizarre law that doesn't make sense any modern society given the ease of transportation and record keeping. In a time when record keeping was less accurate, or you lived out of the middle of no where such a law probably makes sense.

 

[Oldgamer]

Until the spouse remarries, I believe.

I think its exactly that, until the spouse remarries, but the alimony has to be negotiated. It doesn't mean the ex wife gets it automatically, and you have to have been married for a certain period of time before even qualifying for it. Not all judges award this all the time btw.

In Texas they require that both parties have to have been married at least 10 years. Also alimony works both ways, for the ex husband or the ex wife. Think of all the rich wife celebrities and their divorces.. and all that money their young ex husband thinks they are entitled too..lol