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What is fair alimony (OK..."spousal support" to be PC)?

I've prepared an asset distribution settlement suggestion. All based on current value whenever we decide to transfer the funds/assets. With the housing and stock markets doing their thing and cars dropping in value every day, it seems sensible to say "I'll pay you half of what it's worth when we agree to do it".

My "grand plan" was for me to figure all that stuff out (fairly, I hope) and for her to figure out the alimony question and float what she wants/needs after the divorce. Health insurance, etc., as well as alimony. That's not going to happen, it turns out. She refuses to float the first trial balloon.

If I was a jerk, I'd probably offer something like 25% of my salary and she pay her own insurance. That doesn't seem fair, but maybe it is. Essentialy I've got no clue.

And I've been asked to suggest something quickly (hence the emergency status instead of just a plain ordinary question).

The situation is she hasn't worked at all during our 14 year marriage. She suffered a disability before we married relating to a disk problem in her neck. Got workman's comp to cover it (she was a data entry person at the time). I know she could work at least half time doing pretty much anything that doesn't require physical strength and being on your feet all day. With the right kind of activity profile, I believe she could do full time, but know she won't want to (and therefore won't).

Problem is she remains unemployed and isn't looking. And although she did training after her disability (14 years ago) she never used what she learned. And, face it, knowing the MS-DOS version of WordPerfect just doesn't cut it nowadays.

So...can anybody give me a clue how to figure this out? There are calculators for child support, but nothing I can find on alimony that's useful.

So...HEEEEELLLLLP (imagine echoes in the Alps fading away into the distance).

by jhs   555 Posts
Posted on 10/2/2008 12:46 PM

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Comments for "divorce360.com | What is fair alimony (OK..."spousal support" to be PC)?"  (3) (You must be logged in to answer)




If you are going to pay her alimony make sure you stipulate HOW LONG...or it can be forever!
by mtnvly   3539 Posts
Posted on 10/2/2008 3:24 PM
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JHS - since you are doing this on your own - the best advice I can give you is to check into this downloadable (must be purchased) program.

http://www.xspouse.com/

by spaznskitz   7745 Posts
Posted on 10/2/2008 1:23 PM
0





Well I can give you an estimate of how we figured mine. SC says alimony should be paid to keep the injured spouse at the same status as before the divorce or something to that effect. I haven't been gainfully employed in years. We were married for 33 years. 

I figured my household and farm expenses plus the cost of my health insurance. Took half his pension and 3- 401k's for my retirement. The farm goes up for sell in 4 years and I get alimony until it does sell. We split the net proceeds from that. After that I'm on my own. I get to keep six acres I own in my name. He has to keep a life insurance policy with me as beneficiary so I still get my income if something should happen to him. If he dies before the farm sells it's mine. If I die before the farm sells my half goes to my daughters. I didn't want his new "wife" getting my part of the farm I worked so hard to develop.
It's just something the two of you will have to work out and if you can't the court will. As my lawyer said it's better to come to an agreement because if you don't the judge will take a meat cleaver to divide up your life.
by trisha9054   4967 Posts
Posted on 10/2/2008 1:06 PM
2







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