Alimony/Spousal Support

[MovingOn]

My wife and I have roughly the same incomes.  If this continues through the date that our divorce becomes final, will she be entitled to alimony?

If my income increases substantially before our divorce becomes final, will that impact the amount of alimony she is entitled to?

If my income increases substantially after we separate but before our divorce becomes final, will that impact the amount of alimony she is entitled to?

If my income increases substantially after our divorce becomes final, will she be entitled to alimony or a higher level of alimony?

Thanks.

[Piedpiper]

http://divorceinfo.com/alimony.htm

[Lee Borden]

Hmmm. I take it from your question that you have the ability to change your income at will. What you seem to be hinting is that you have kept your income artificially low and wonder when it's safe to let it rise to its true level.

If this is the case, and your wife knows it, this conversation may be academic. This is because any good lawyer who knows this would argue that your true income is what you are capable of earning, not the artificially depressed level you're actually reporting.

In most states, you and your wife could agree to a provision that both of you waive alimony permanently. If you and she sign that, there will be no alimony in the future, no matter what happens to your income.

Anytime before the divorce is effective and future alimony is waived, a sudden rise in your income would set off all kinds of alarm bells, not only with your wife and her lawyer but also with the judge.