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Divorce laws in MA are CRAZY

Anon2009's picture

Submitted by Anon2009 on Wed, 06/22/2011 - 7:35pm

I was talking with my mom today. One of my cousins on her side lives in MA and he just got divorced. He is now seeing a wonderful woman who earns big $$$$. He's also stuck paying his ex-wife alimony forever :sick:

He wants to marry this girl, but if he does, then her earnings will be calculated into the amount of alimony he has to pay his ex-wife, who is a nutjob!

Let's all write to and call our state and national senators and representatives- these laws have to change! Don't stop calling until significant changes are made!

Comments

queen-B's picture

Submitted by queen-B on Wed, 06/22/2011 - 9:18pm

Unfortunately, yes way Sad

Several states have laws now that incorporate second spouse's income into child support. And many others go at it through the back door, saying that since the dad's cost-of-living is lower ('cause new wife is picking up the slack) then dad has more money available to pay for the child. The idea is that the child is entitled to be taken care of more than the adult (and the state doesn't want to get stuck paying in the form of welfare). It's a major factor in my decision not to marry until youngest skid turns 18, and even then I could be at risk. In some cases, even non-spouse partners are being included in support calculations one way or another. It sucks eggs, if you ask me. For the love of God, keep your assets separate, and your money separate. It's the only defense you've got... :O

Edit: whoops! I was thinking CS, not alimony. I've never read up on alimony laws, but if that's true the state of MA has effectively killed the idea of second marriages...

mcnat's picture

Submitted by mcnat on Wed, 06/22/2011 - 11:52pm

ok, just saw this, if you meant child support instead of alimony then that makes a little more since but i know that in arkansas and texas the second spouses income does not go towards child support. How old are his kids? Once they turn 18 (or 21 depending on state laws) the CS stops

Ex4life's picture

Submitted by Ex4life on Wed, 06/22/2011 - 9:17pm

If she remarries it ends, correct? I have never heard of any other state who coonsiders a new spouses income in allimony figures. Some states do consider a new spouses income in certain CS figures, but alimony??? I'd be checking with a couple of different lawyers real quick.

mcnat's picture

Submitted by mcnat on Wed, 06/22/2011 - 11:49pm

i agree with Ex4life. Many lawyers have free consolations, so if they do decide to marry at some point in the future they should probably check with a lawyer to find out what they can do. As far as alimony, alimony is SPOUSAL support and there is no reason a new spouse should have to support the old spouse!

the_evil_one's picture

Submitted by the_evil_one on Wed, 06/22/2011 - 10:28pm

Alimony is an antiquated idea that needs to go away. I'm sorry for your friend who is stuck to an ex for no good reason. Never mind the actual marriage laws, we need to focus on people not getting married anymore.

Sarahjc's picture

Submitted by Sarahjc on Wed, 06/22/2011 - 11:38pm

In WA, if she were to remarry, then the support would stop. The only time I can see a need for alimony is if the wife is a stay at home mom taking care of the kids and dad is out getting his pickle tickled by someone else, which leads to a divorce. In a case like that, I think alimony should be paid as the wife had no expectation in the relationship to earn income and was not at fault for the divorce. Just my opinion Smile

I met with an attorney before I married my husband to make sure that my income would not be considered in CS here in WA. Under WA's CS regs, they can request information related to my income, but only in extreme circumstances (such as DH having no source of income) can they base CS off of my income. DH is well aware that if WA changes their laws or if my income is ever considered, we will divorce until his CS stops. BM doesn't work-she blogs 23 hours a day. I work 50 hours a week as an accountant. NO WAY IN HELL will she ever see a dime of my paycheck!

herewegoagain's picture

Submitted by herewegoagain on Thu, 06/23/2011 - 2:57am

It's like that where I live too...My uncle divorced my aunt...actually SHE is my aunt...well, so we thought...NOPE! He has never divorced her although he has lived with someone else for years...the tradeoff was she would keep his insurance otherwise, she could divorce, get everything, incl. alimony and get his new wife's income factored in...it happens with CS here too...crazy...

Every single divorced woman I know here has at least one house and an apartment. Because many get the house in the divorce settlement or go live with family, they then not only get CS but additional money for actual MORTGAGE...so if they have a small mortgage or no mortgage, they would not get that money...instead they all purchase a second home, put that as their PRIMARY home to get the extra CS...usually rented out for years and end up with at least 2 homes...nice, huh?