Divorce Advice for Men | Fathers Rights Divorce | Child Custody

Question:

My wife and I are getting a divorce, and she is requesting alimony.

I have traditionally provided for the family financially, but my income is a fraction of what it used to be. I currently am dipping into our savings just to offset expenses.

Will the court consider how much of my savings I have depleted to keep our family afloat when it comes to determining alimony?

Question:

I wanted to see what the steps are to have my alimony and child support modified. 

My alimony and child support payments were based off high income I accumulated during years that my income was 100% commission. I am no longer in that position and my salary has decreased substantially, though it is much more stable.

I would like to have my alimony and child support modified to reflect my new salary level. Is this possible?

Question:

I was unable to attend the temporary hearing where my wife and her divorce lawyer misrepresented my financial information for alimony and child support.

As a result, my temporary orders for alimony and child support payments are 75% of my monthly net income.

Can I appeal this decision and modify the temporary orders?

By Matt Allen

Editor, DadsDivorce.com

It's official. Massachusetts' long-awaited alimony reform is now reality following Gov. Deval Patrick's signature that mostly eradicates lifetime alimony awards.

The new law allows judges to put an end date to alimony, establishes a formula, and sets guidelines to help determine the amount of alimony.

Judges were hamstrung by the state’s previous archaic laws that did not allow them to cap the duration of alimony even when they felt alimony should end, among other shortcomings.

By Daniel Exner

Divorce Lawyer, Cordell & Cordell

If your state does not have a time limit on how long alimony lasts and are wanting to retire, you should file a motion to modify immediately. 

This is because, depending on the court, there may be an issue with the reduction of income as your retirement may be viewed as voluntary and unreasonable, thus amounting to "shirking."

Before the court grants the modification, however, it will assess whether your retirement amounts to shirking.