Alimony

Alimony, technically speaking, alimony is the order of payment for the support or maintenance of a spouse or former spouse, periodically or in a lump sum, for a specified or for an indefinite term, ordered in an action for divorce, Basically, alimony is the money one ex-spouse is legally required to give to the other in a divorce or separation agreement. Alimony law varies from state to state, and often the amount of alimony rests completely upon the judge's discretion. Unlike child support guidelines that are mandated by each state, alimony guidelines are few and far between with the judge's discretion holding the most clout. The method of alimony payment varies also by the state in which the divorce settlement is reached. Most states allow a lump-sum payment, equal to the total alimony amount expected over a period of years. Monthly dispersion is another method of alimony payments, but few people prefer to wait for a check in the mail. Most people receiving alimony choose the lump sum for the simple reason that it brings closure to the proceedings and relations can be severed, if necessary, with the ex-spouse. According to the latest census data Alimony is only awarded in 12% of divorces and it is becoming a thing of the past. (Two income earners and most if not all members of the households working) Now let me get on a soap box on my feeling about it, I do not believe in it, I did not ask for it in my divorce (I was entitled to it) and I think UNLESS there are HUGE circumstance such as small children, domestic violence, or a disability then it should not happen. WHY you ask? It is a hand out! When a partnership of any type is resolved the business end, so does a marriage now in marriage you have perhaps other things to worry about such as children, Child support is different and I believe that child support should happen for the children, however Alimony is for the partnership and that needs to go away. Frankly from my own experience only one type of women even ask for alimony the rest of us say no. The one's who feel like it is an entitlement, the one's who were born into money or felt like the deserved it for some other reason; like they were wronged in the marriage so they want revenge. Ladies and even gentlemen now are able to ask for alimony. Frankly I think it is an old law that should have gone out with the horse and buggy. For you women out there who get it, believe me I know who you are really. The one's who want the final stab at the man, the one's who want in money form what you will never get back again in any other form and ladies you are a sad, sad bunch.....