Alimony may have had its place in divorce, but far too often it is like a punishment for men. In a world where women continue to gain more of a percentage of the workforce, the need for alimony continues to come under fire. Some think alimony has traditionally been used as a way to get men to stay in a marriage they possibly did not want anymore. Whether true or not, thankfully, many states are changing those medieval modes of thinking about spousal support!
The Greatest Alimony States for Men
Georgia:
Georgia has some of the best laws in the country in regards to knocking out alimony from the divorce equation. Sometimes you have to wonder if they named it the Peach State after their alimony laws.
While some alimony can be ordered, usually it is not. They keep trying to improve their laws related to alimony, but as with legislation, it is difficult to cover all contingencies, like this one related to trust protection exclusion related to alimony.
Additionally, if the spousal payee committed adultery, they are barred from alimony payments altogether.
Texas:
Texas is one of the hardest states to get alimony payments in the country. It often is just not awarded at all.
The only downside is that the Lone Star State is a community-property state. Wealthy breadwinners beware! Property gets split down the middle.
Nevada:
The land of quickie marriages and divorces!
While this might not be the place where you make your last stand with your ex in a long, drawn-out battle, it can go very well in short, somewhat amicable divorces.
Note: Nevada is also a community property state.
Alaska:
Alaska has a non-monetary contribution to the marriage where marital fault may also be considered. But, this could be a double-edge sword.
If your wife contributed to the marriage by raising the kids, then, maybe it’s not so good. Conversely, if she cheated, the alimony gets booted.
New Hampshire:
Like Nevada, New Hampshire has a quick divorce turnaround time. While this does not always help with the alimony, it does give a failed marriage finality, faster. Then, you can move on with your life.
New Hampshire doesn’t just look at the usual things (earnings, children, education, etc.) but also each spouse’s earning potential outside the marriage.
Fault weighs heavily there, too, as does each spouse’s contributions to their joint properties.
The thorough examination is based on need and not a predetermined formula that might unfairly hurt the paying spouse.
Alabama:
In Alabama, the paying partner’s economic conditions are considered and weighed against the other spouse’s financial needs.
Alimony is ordered on a time frame, and ends:
- Upon the death of either the payer or recipient,
- When the recipient remarries, or
- If the recipient moves in with a new mate
Cohabitation is important because (as you will see below) it means the receiving spouse cannot get away with receiving alimony payments for years while living with a new partner.
Delaware:
Delaware has some factors judges use to determine whether alimony is paid, and for how long.
Alimony is awarded for half the length of a marriage in cases where the divorce comes less than 20 years after the wedding date.
After the 20-year mark, however, it can go on for life.
Kansas:
By far one of the simplest systems in the country!
Kansas says alimony can last for a maximum of 121 months after the divorce. But, the awardee can apply for, and be granted, an additional 121 months in payments. This only happens in rare cases, though.
Tennessee:
Tennessee is committed to rehabilitative spousal support.They encourage job training and education.
That doesn’t mean judges will not order alimony to provide long-term support. It just means that spouses cannot receive money without genuine need.
Utah:
Alimony awards ordered not to exceed the length of the marriage. Also, they stop spousal support upon cohabitation and remarriage. What guy wants to pay an ex to live with some new guy?
The Worst Alimony States for Men
California:
While California was the first state to offer no-fault divorces, they are also one of the most expensive states in the country when it comes to court-ordered support after divorce.
Randall M. Kessler, chairman of the American Bar Association’s Section on Family Law, told Alan Farnham of ABC News,
“Child support in California is typically 10 times what it is…in Georgia or Nevada.”
For that reason alone, California, you made it onto the list of nastiest states for alimony in the country.
New Mexico:
This state’s laws allow scorned spouses to bring suit against their former partner’s new lover.
Talk about holding a grudge!
Mississippi:
Meet the second state to coddle grudge holders! Hell hath no wrath like legislators in New Mexico andMississippi!
Here, too, a scorned partner can legally sue their former spouse’s new lover for damages. Potentially, a non-guilty party can be held responsible for someone else’s failed marriage. Love to meet the jilted lover who created that law!
New York:
New York is one of the slowest states to reform their alimony laws. They held out on legalizing no-fault divorces until 2010. The delay cost litigants thousands of dollars in wasted fees.
That is the heart of the matter. New York has not made it easy for men seeking divorce to move on with their lives.
Colorado:
Colorado does not care if one or the other party to divorce can adequately support themselves.
Instead, they use a formula they call “temporary.” It takes 40% of the higher income deducted by 50% of the lower income. It is not based on financial reality. This “temporary” formula often becomes the long-term, more permanent formula.
Furthermore, Colorado is a community-property state. That means all property is divided equally. So, you could lose half of your property and assets. And then, still pay out 40% of your income.
Imagine getting divorced three times!? Does that mean you owe 120% of your income to your ex?
Florida:
The best way to sum up Florida’s messed up alimony policies is through the story of Debbie Israel.
The 47-year-old college math teacher from Miami refuses to marry her fiancé because of the state’s alimony for life laws. Once they get married, she will have to give a percentage of her wages to her would-be husband’s ex-wife as part of his household, permanently.
Yep, this makes Florida one of the nastiest states for alimony in the country.
West Virginia:
They almost didn’t make the nasty list. Their laws regarding marital misconduct ensure no adulterer, convicted felon, or spouse deserter gets awarded alimony.
But they do allow for the ordering of permanent spousal support. Were it not for that, they’d be on the nice list.
New Jersey:
The Garden State probably represents a lot of disheartening news for many spouses. They’re one of the last remaining states where permanent alimony is a possibility. While the system is equitable, permanent is not a sound way to set up alimony for couples who were only together for a few years.
Vermont & Connecticut:
I know I’m going all broken record here, but the thought of paying alimony in perpetuity stinks! It is with that thought in mind that I welcome Vermont and Connecticut to the list of nastiest states for alimony.
They round out the list of the worst 10 for that particular reason.
Final Thoughts
Residing in the right state is not a Get out of Jail Free, alimony card. However, it can significantly reduce your expenses over time.
While many of us can’t just pack up and move to a different state whenever we want, even if for more favorable alimony environment, we can have influence over the working situation in our home. The key reason for alimony across the country is to provide support while a non-working spouse re-enters the workforce. If both spouses work throughout the marriage, or definitely the years before the divorce, the alimony claims reduce significantly.
Alimony laws in this country ultimately vary from state to state. Pay attention (Now!) to the laws in your state before you get married. Make sure you will not get the screw when (and if) you divorce.
Make sure you’re with someone with whom you want to spend your life. Being sure is a much better alternative to being sorry.
How did your state shape up? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
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I have been divorced and fortunately do not have to pay alimony. I have a broader question though – does the government really need to be involved in marriage? I think it is better if two individuals reach a private agreement between themselves and consider that agreement marriage. I do not think it is necessary or wise to seek a marriage license (government recognition of the agreement). If the couple in question wish to have a church ceremony of some type as recognition of their marriage (private agreement), that is something that they can work out with their pastor, assuming that he is willing to do so. But I really think it is in the best interest of both parties to keep the government out of what should be a private agreement, that is marriage.
Look alimony must be paid because you likely had someone elevate your income prospects by washing your bedsheets mopping your floor cooking you real homemade food ya dumbshit! Pay for what you get in this life ya loser! Half of what you make minus half of what she can earn while the children are in regular school and for as long as that is to say as many months as she invested in your sorry take take take gimme life on a silver platter x!
My boyfriend’s (BF) wife left him for another man after 40 years of marriage. The kids are all adults. BF is a surgeon who tried to expand his practice into multiple cities in order to pay the $24,000/month spousal support award. They split their assets and he paid her another $1.5 million before he went broke because the business failed. Even after he filed a double chapter 7 bankruptcy, the court ordered him to pay $75,000 more towards her attorney fees and “lowered” his support to $19,000/month. He has liquidated all his assets to pay her and prop up the failing business. At 66 years old, he is left with $6,000 in his bank account; an old pick-up truck; and $200,000 in an IRA. He needs to get out of California and try to make a little money for himself. Where can he go to escape this nightmare?
I know of no where that I can advise your husband to go. He’s likely bound to pay the spousal support regardless where he moves. My only alternate solution is to move out of the country, Costa Rica or some other Ex Pat favorable location where he could work and live a reasonable life with limited assets. But there’s no guarantee. The court could likely attach his Social Security benefits.
He can pay half of what he makes per Bureau of Labor Statistics minus half of what she can earn when the children are in regular school. For as many months as they were married. Or as far as I’m concerned can go to x.
CO has lifetime alimony.
I’m an unemployed female paying 4-figure alimony to the man I had to divorce because he absolutely refused work (for last 3 years of 17 year marriage; he had worked prior).
I also pay high 3-figure CS in 50/50. Lost house, savings, 401k, and possessions. My financial situation is so different than what I thought it would be.
But at least he’s enjoying. He’ll be going on 2nd overseas trip in 6 months in a few weeks.
He has a master’s and a job and will get my $ for the next 10 years. I have a chip on my shoulder and a totally changed outlook.
I am on my second marriage and we live in Florida. I was eligible for alimony in my first marriage and declined. Why would an able bodied, educated person feel entitled to receive money from an EX? My second husband served in the military for 26 years and his ex-wife refused to work. She receives $4000 LIFETIME ALIMONY comprised of HALF OF HIS MILITARY PENSION and the rest out of pocket which I write a check for every month. He GAVE her his GI bill when they were separated so she get her college degree with the verbal agreement she would get a job and become financially independent.
Well, they got their divorce and she got her bachelors degree and decided that was not her field of interest. She then went on to earn a certificate in pharmacy technician and then decided she would not take a job earning minimum wage. To keep herself “busy” she took other pointless classes. My husband reached out to a colleague and GAVE her a job and she quit in 2 weeks saying she was too educated compared to the others, the hours were bad and the people were mean. Sounds like a child or what?
She has been “volunteering” 5 days a week at habitat for humanity as a construction worker earning her volunteer of the year and ended up on the news. She declared “I work for free”….no she collects $48,000 a year and volunteers to show people how “giving” and “kind” she is. It’s easy to volunteer when you have no worries about bills, able to travel anytime, no schedule, no accountability and no motivation to ever be independent. She eats out at the local bar everyday. She has let herself go to the point of looking homeless so that she will never get a job or a spouse.
My husband and I work our tails off and my income alone is $10,000 less than she gets in a year. My husband really believed she would make good on her verbal agreement to get a job and reduce the alimony. Isn’t there someway we can rid ourselves of this ADULT CHILD SUPPORT? Their children are adults supporting themselves…
She had a whole news segment on her “altruism” volunteering in Tampa showing her as a construction worker. When she was interviewed she reports that she works 5 days a week for free. This is proof that she is an able bodied 50+ year old doing hard labor but unable to support herself!! Someone please comment on how to rid ourselves of this pathetic adult child leech. HELP!
Contact that news station show them what he pays her in alimony and all the free education she’s received on his dime, gi bill etc. If they are itching for a story they’ll take it … if not go to their competitor. Also could take out a big ad in the local newspaper there …
This is not too different from my case, and I understand that now that my husband’a income has been significantly reduced ahd he can’t afford the attorneys who already took it all, she is coming after my income. She and her cohabitating boyfriend have a successful real estate business, so if there is no progress on a fair agreement with this parasite, we will do exactly that. I live in Clearwater , and I am sure we can make both stories public, specially now that there is a PAC that are working on 2019 legislation to end permanent alimony and put some fair laws around it.
You can pay him half of what you earn per Bureau of Labor Statistics when the children are in regular school. He can pay you half of what he can earn per Bureau of Labor Statistics. You both must do this for each other for as many months as you were married to be human beings in my book.
I don’t hear much about marriage after 35 years.
I have been abused in every possible way and I stayed because the door was locked, no family, far from my friends and to care for our child that was born disabled. Autism. My life has always been hard while my spouse got all the credit and career. I tried to leave him , but was stopped at the airport after being beaten and raped. 30 years later my children are grown and I made a run for it with him right behind me in chase. I crashed into a 18 wheeler and thank God nobody got hurt but me. I lost my leg and my back is damaged permanently. I’m in Wheelchair and still care for my 29 year old disabled son. We both are scared to death of my spouse.
I can’t get Disabilty because I wasn’t allowed to work, go to school. I managed to get my GED and got my basics at a college and that’s when he stopped me. It’s been prison and unbelievable punishment for me, but I can’t leave my son behind. I Must protect him. My spouse has tried to kill me while I was in hospital and home. I asked him why you do this to me? He said because your here. I said then let me go. He said your not leaving me!
I found out there is help out there. But, I always run into a wall. No matter how bad this person is he gets away.
He makes 6 figures. I don’t know what to do.
I can’t even find an attorney that will help me.
Is this what you want?
Someone you can beat, lock up, abuse, and use your own children as a tool. When they grow up they remember. I know there are many of you saying Hell yes!
I also know it’s a human thing. Not just men and not just women. But, when a man hits you it’s permanently damaged. I rarely here when a woman hits a man does he get permanently damaged.
Nobody should hit anyone, bottom line. But, there is no laws to help me. If they are I cannot find them. Yes, I call the police and they are men.
They are sad to see what went down, but that’s all.
And if I do manage to leave, I can’t get Insurance.
I will die from pain. my child will be abandoned or put in a home. I understand many of you didn’t deserve what happened to you and it looks like over kill. But, what happens to someone like me. I loved my spouse and gave him a child earlier to prove my love to him. He made promises he never kept. I only found out after I was pregnant what he was truly capable of. It went away for about 8 years and then came back with a vengeance. On my way To a trip with my spouse I jumped out at a stop sign and tried to run with a small suitcase with my medication and CPAP machine. I didn’t want anything from him. But he took my suitcase with my ID and put it in the car so I got back in. Because I needed my insulin. So am I wrong for wanting him to pay after I tried to make the best for my kids and myself after 35 years now. I just wanted peace. Do you guys believe he should pay?
Or are you saying it’s my fault?
I kept him from going AWAL in the military, I pushed him through college, I got him his job, I helped along the way because he said he loved me and soon I would get to go back to college. He lied. He thinks it’s funny. His kids don’t want anything to do with him and I said nothing to them. I wanted my kids to have a relationship with there dad, but he didn’t want one.
I do believe he is mentally sick. And has always been.
I have tried countless times to escape. My only chance now is through divorce with Insurance. I will gladly care for my son. I hope to reconnect with my daughter afterwards , but not too close, because she behaves like her dad. Even though they don’t like each other.
After you put your laws in place to protect yourselves, what laws will be in place to protect someone like me?
Remember, it’s a human thing.
Battered woman’s shelter —-
They will help you
You are entitled to SSDI based on his income and work history this also applies to your son. I don’t understand why you are not aware of this. It is a Federal law not state and so you have this right regardless of where you live. You may also be able to collect spousal SS depending on both of your ages and the duration of your marriage / his work history. You need a lawyer that can navigate the system. Your son, especially, being permanently disabled for life has been eligible for this type of support for a long time.
I’ve been married for 9 years my husband left me without a word went to be with another woman can I get any type of money from him
Try getting a job and supporting yourself.
Try not jerking off to porn, washing your own bedsheets, mopping your own floor, and making your own homemade food.
Try getting debilitating meningitis and being unable to get healthcare or a job. Write a post when you’ve grown some brains.
You should be able to get Spousal support
I noticed that you left South Carolina off of your nastiest alimony states in this article. Based on what I read, South Carolina should be ranked in the top three. I hope you will update the next article that you write and include South Carolina as among the nastiest alimony states.
SC Alimony Reform is a grass roots movement that is attempting to end or reform the archaic permanent alimony laws in SC. Our organization represents approximately 1,000 people in SC and we are rapidly growing. We have been trying to change the permanent alimony laws since 2011 (as have 25 other states.This amounts to half of the country protesting permanent alimony laws). We understand that there is a place for alimony payments to a recently divorced spouse trying to get back on his or her feet…but not lasting for a lifetime.
People that are forced to pay permanent alimony are forced to support another person for the rest of their lives simply because their marriages failed. This affects not only men, but also women, that are paying permanent lifetime alimony. There is no other payment in this country that is paid for a life time. House payments, car payments, any type of loan, and even child support ends within a specified period of time. Child support laws recognize that once a child is 18 they are an adult and are fully capable of providing for themselves. However, a fully grown man or woman that is divorced is awarded lifetime payments. This makes no sense! Many of our members will never be able to retire. They will have to work until they die or face the possibility of being jailed if they can no longer pay. We have had members that became to feeble to work later in life and were put in jail when they were nearly 80 years old. This is so wrong!!!
Permanent alimony also affects families in negative ways. Men and women that are paying permanent alimony have problems remarrying due to the fact that, once their prospective spouse finds out that their intended is paying permanent alimony, they do not want to get involved in the turmoil that permanent alimony causes. It also hurts women that are divorced because they will never remarry for fear of losing the permanent alimony. Many of them never work again and go into virtual early retirement while the payer is forced to live a life similar to an indentured servant . It also affects children of divorce. The animosity between the ex-spouses affects the children in a very emotional way and often forces them to choose sides. Therefore, we can conclude that permanent alimony is NOT family friendly and is harmful to the children of divorce.
It is past time to reform South Carolina’s archaic permanent alimony laws. Every person deserves to have the right to retire and people paying permanent alimony have very little chance of ever retiring. Most will have to work until they drop or until their ex-spouse remarries or dies. No person should ever have to pay another person for the rest of their life simply because the marriage failed.
We need RELIEF from alimony…not additional burdens!!!
West Virginia is no better . I have been separated for 6 years divorced for 5 my child support was reduced from 2 kids to 1 who has a mild disability I was married to a lazy self indulgent spoiled brat who I paid for numerous degrees for and later on she got even more certifications but I’m paying her $34,000 a year in court ordered support with no end in sight as she was awarded permanent alimony she has great incentive never to marry or work full time and I’m paying her just as much today as I did 6 years ago so at 61 years old I cannot retire plan my future re-marry unless the woman is willing to accept that I’m my exes financial slave for life . I was married 23 years but I did not marry until I was 32 and she was 29 she had a life before I married her .I think this is a violation of the 13th amendment to the constitution banning slavery the premise being you could not steal the fruits of another’s labor without just compensation except in the case of punishment for a crime . So what was my crime ? Marrying the wrong women ? We need to have a nationwide network of like-minded people who will fund a sharp attorney/ law firm willing to push that issue all the way to the Supreme Court
I live in VA. I am a father of three adorable children. My ex never worked and f****d around with her GB and BF. After ten years of marriage I could not take it anymore so I got divorced with a heavy price. We settled amicably and Judge gave her my house and since I earn six figures annually She ordered me to pay $1500 for five years since January 2018. On top of those my 401K, bank accounts split in the middle. I am drowning. Please help me out. I was considering to move to TX or GA to have it removed or renegotiated. Please guide me.
I’m not a attorney but I live in Texas and it’s getting more expensive to live here but if you make six figures you can afford these overpriced homes in Austin. I’d say it’s worth a try. It sounds like your ex is a gold digger. I’m sorry you had to go through this.
The best estate for men spousal support avoidance is Oregon, specially in Washington County, Oregon. We have a friend who’s x moved to California with one perjury and four contempt’s of Court with over $200,000 still owed after getting out of paying nearly $50,000 and the Judge not only did nothing but assured him in Court that he will never be found guilty of anything in Oregon. Here is the proof from Oregon State and all documents we have are public domain. She had a cerebral hemorrhage a year ago, and if it wasn’t for all of us who absolute think she is the best friend who has always helped us helping her who knows what would happen.
So thank you Oregon, you are the perfect old boys club state. Unfortunately you don’t have a way to share the documents showing that as January 2018 $ 223.040.00 (no typos the amount is taken directly from the DOJ.
I live in California and am undergoing a divorce. I make 6 figure salary and is about 80% of household salary. Wife quit her job now and I’m paying her heavy amount per month. We also have 2 kids under 18 years of age. She has a boyfriend now, no desire to work, enjoying life and is double dipping. Any possibility I can move out of state and avoid being financially raped for ever as we have been married more than 16 years.
No.
Take extensive losses. “gamble” away a bunch of funds and pay people above FMV for services in agreement that you can hopefully get some of it back under the table. No offense but you live in a really shitty state. Move immediately while still married. She can stay with the BF and file for divorce on her own. Make all the beneficiaries your family or non related party. Make her get a lawyer that will have to untangle a huge pile
My wife and I are married for 22 years but now she threatens to divorce me saying I have to quit smoking (I did) and that I’m not attractive anymore (I can’t do anything about that 🙁 ). She also said I have to start helping her in the house (I do) with chores. We both have full time job. I work Monday-Thursday 10/day and take every day the kids swimming at different hours in the afternoon. She works weekends and she’s home every day during the week. She takes the kids to school every morning when she’s home, then she goes to gym for few hours and come home and sleeps until she pick up the kids from school at 3:00pm. At the present time, we all live together in the same house, but we have separate bedrooms. So, that being said, I don’t know what to do.
The Florida Family Law Reform PAC is working hard to overturn the egregious and anachronistic laws in Florida. People divorced before 2010 could expect to pay permanent alimony for marriages lasting little over 10 years (which is the reason I didn’t contest the point in my settlement agreement for a 16-year marraige during which I paid a master degree and full-time nanny for my ex to pursue her career in school counseling). Now, after 13 years of supporting my ex since separation, and trying to modify alimony after a 78% fall in my income which caused me to get a job out of state temporarily (my ex’s attorney paid $500 to the judge’s campaign and he ruled against me which also left me having to pay well into the six figures for her and my legal fees). It is time to change the law. Gov Scott twice vetoed legislation achieving this but 2019 is the year! Join us and help us!
It’s all bulls**t! My husband has been paying his ex for 20!yrs now. She never worked in hr life & is now an RN, but her $ doesn’t matter… just my husbands does. It’s INSANE!!!
Agree. It’s private welfare for the lazy.
How often does spousal support get awarded in Colorado. My son is about to go to court and his wife is asking for support. She moved out of their home 6 years ago and has maintained a separate residence since then. Their child is 20 and lives with his mother. My son does. It make a ton of money.
Leslie, it depends. Colorado does allow spousal support under certain circumstances. Does your son’s wife have the capacity to earn her own living? Has she been supporting herself in her separate residence, or has your son been providing for her? Is their 20 year old son incapacitated, special needs or still in school? Your son’s attorney will be familiar with the local laws and the judge, and can best assess the likelihood that your son will be ordered to pay spousal support.
You left off South Carolina as being one of the worst states for alimony. We have been trying to change the laws here since 2011, but one senator continues to block our efforts. He happens to be a matrimonial attorney. Matrimonial attorneys should not be allowed to vote on our bills because there is a definite conflict of interest.
Is alimony determined by the state a couple is married in or the state they are divorced in? We don’t have alimony in Indiana. If a couple moved here from California, could alimony get awarded? What about if an Indiana couple moved to Cali and later got divorced, would there be alimony?
Don –
This is not legal advice – but here is my understanding. You do not have to be divorced in the state where you were married, however you do have to meet the residency requirements of the state where you file for divorce. The court/jurisdiction handling the divorce will be the court that makes decisions on divorce-related issues like alimony or child support.
So if you were married in California and want to file in Indiana, you need to live in Indiana for the required length of time to qualify as an Indiana resident. Most states require at least six months, some require more. Additionally, in most states, only the person filing the divorce action has to meet the residency requirement.
You’ll want to check with an attorney in the state where you wish to file to make sure of the requirements, but I hope this helps.
I live in California and want to divorce my verbally abusive husband who is unemployed, doesn’t look for work, doesn’t contriubute to any domestic chores, our other household responsibilities and spends $1000 a month on his food addiction.
5 Laywers have told me I have to give him half my of my house and 401K and additionally over half of my net income. I would be unable to support myself if I divorced him. Cost of living is high here.
California is causing to stay in a miserable abusive marriage.
I HATE THIS STATE. I want to die.
That sucks! I feel so,sorry for you. I had a worthless spouse, who refused to work. We got divorced and I had to pay a ton of alimony and child support. I just finished my last alimony payment recently. Six long years! I still have 4 years of child support, which isn’t fair because she still hasn’t worked.
The great thing is that I’m much happier without that loser.
I recommend you speak with an attorney and get out of that marriage. There is a better life waiting for you!
Let’s reform California’s horrible alimony and child support laws.
what if you also quit your job? If you filed for divorce some time after you become unemployed, and you stay unemployed long enough after the divorce, he won’t be able to come after the salary of your next job.
Mark rcca is DEAD WRONG!!!! do not listen to his advice abd yes your x can come after your next job. Besides why cut your nose to spite your face. What you could do though (unethical) is make some 401k withdrawls and loose money.
Get out of California and file from another state. Find one with a short residency requirement, and better alimony laws.
Welcome to the club.
Dawn: I strongly suggest you move out of state (Texas sounds perfect) and set up residency BEFORE filing for divorce. Otherwise, California will wipe you out and destroy any hope for financial security.
I’m surprised Massachusetts wasn’t mentioned. My husband was married for 25 years in Mass. She left him to move to Italy after a temporary teaching gig over there. He had put her through school a couple of times (she changed her mind about what she wanted to do several times). They never had children. She was awarded alimony for life. When she got married in Italy she failed to notify the court. He got wind of it and we had to hire a PI to investigate and document. He stopped paying alimony and her lawyer threatened him. He counter-threatened to report her to the bar for attempting to collect when her client had re-married and we never heard anything again.
I was married 22-years to a High Income Physician (the wife) I sued for a Divorce (she’s a oxy-drug addict) but makes $1.2-million per year (functional drug addicted Physician) – I put her through her Specialty training in Allergy. We were in Orlando, Florida (our Court). I make 40/50 (adjusted gross income) annually. I got very little after lawyers fees from the Marital Estate (Equitable Distribution) – the result – No Award of Alimony of any Kind. The Trial Judge signed the Proposed Order from her lawyer (verbatim) made no Independent findings, at all. On Appeal (Florida DCA 5th – Central Florida) I drew 3 Evangelical, Right Wing Judges – appointed by Jeb Bush. They think Alimony is a Socialist idea – and they may have to pay it (personal corruption) someday – they “affirmed” the decision.
Lesson – men do not get Alimony of any kind in Central Florida – South Florida is different.
The 13th Amendment – Equal Protection under the Law – does not apply in Orlando, Florida or Daytona Beach, Florida home of the most Nazi like Judges you will ever find.
Surprised SC is not listed… they have a huge group trying to change the permanent alimony laws, but a lot of congressmen / lawyers don’t want to change it.
You are absolutely right! I am the president of South Carolina’s alimony reform movement. South Carolina should definitely be in the top three!
Permanent alimony, regardless of circumstances, is a violation of civil rights and tantamount to slavery. Even children are financially emancipated at 18. It is incongruoud that any individual should be forever responsible for another unrelated adult. Alimony, when awarded, should be brief and rehabilitative in nature. If a disability exists, then alimony should provide an adjustment period, not substitute for the states obligations to its citizens.
Way to go Annette and I totally agree too. With these backward systems still in effect I myself have not ever remarried. It’s truly sad that depicts my decision to never tie the knot again.
The highest income earner likely was a lazy x at home. Look buddy it takes many hours a day to shop clean cook launder and take care of kids. Betcha you worked fewer hours per day your whole sorry marriage. She elevated your income prospects meaning not her own meaning for whatever idiotic reason she invested in you. But she cannot afford to work for free anymore than you can. Unless it was some magical elf that washed your bedsheets mopped your floor ran your errands and cooked your real homemade food, pay your x wife. Half of what you can now earn thanks to her per Bureau of Labor Statistics minus half of what she can earn per Bureau of Labor Statistics when the children are in regular school. How long? For as many months as you were married. And pay in cash. I believe in God and that he will utterly destroy men who use abuse exploit women. Do not tell me you attend any kind of church unless you can first show me you love your neighbor as yourself. Word to the wise, next time do not use porn, women hate men that do that.
Jeannine, are you a troll or just an angry feminist who looks like a troll?
Any thoughts or insight to Maine’s all lining laws? They do allow perm alimony after 20 years with zero responsibility to the payee to show need. Merely an equalizing of pay.
with all of this information that is produced here or anywhere, what about how can a MAN receive alimony in any states, and which are they? My situation is that i am the stay at home dad(0K), she is the breadwinner(100K), i rather hear or see the facts of my case scenarios so that i could possibly be protected if She wanted a divorce(currently of 9years/3 months). I am looking for life of alimony states as a guy to move to that state(s).
PMS,
We hear you.
Spousal support is critically important to men who sacrifice financially for the good of the family. Thank you for asking for more information on alimony for men. In direct response to your request, you will be seeing an article on Guyvorce within 30 days that speaks to guy-friendly states for alimony.
We look forward to hearing what you think!
Regards,
Guyvorce Team
As a divorce lawyer in Texas, I enjoyed this post. However, I wanted to let you know that Texas does allow permanent alimony, so you may not want to use that as such a litmus test. I would agree that alimony is harder to get in Texas than just about anywhere. In fact, I question how Georgia could possibly beat us out on that one, but we do have a provision for permanent alimony for disabled individuals. I am curious what is needed to qualify for permanent alimony in some of the other states you mention?
I am amazed that they give any alimony in Texas. I was an at home mother for 13 years and received nothing. I left most furniture. Took probably 1/4 of what we obtained together. Only job I could get was Penneys during the bust in West Texas. The lawyers made a big deal like I was a thief because I charged a $900 bed (don’t want used for obvious reasons). I lost and paid $2000 for that account. I love Texas but the good ole boy mentality in West Texas favors the man and hurts the woman. Now in Idaho my current husband just got diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease. He has paid $8000/month to an ex and we can’t do it anymore. He is deathly ill, but she doesn’t care and we have spent $10,000 on a lawyer and it’s still not over.
All that is needed in South Carolina is to be divorced. Permanent alimony seems to be the default choice here. The laws here are horrible.
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