Supported wifes buisness now she wants alimony!!!

There are about 14 factors that go into an award of alimony.  Custody of minor children going forward is only one of those factors. 

Also, depending on your incomes, splitting the children might not be a "wash" for child support purposes.  If your income is significantly higher than your wife's, then you would still owe her more in support than she would owe you.

You should definitely consult a local attorney about the procilivity of local divorce Masters to award alimony.  Some are more likely to do so than others.

you won't get custody if you show more care and concern for one child over the other...I get that he has problems, but you are going to CREATE problems for your daughter by splitting them.

Please rethink your choice.

Go speak to a licensed child psychologist about it. Make an informed decision.

Thanks for the response. It breaks my heart to seperate the kids. My son is bi-polar and is a powder keg waiting to explode in regards to how his Mother is towards him. I would have to do this out of safety concerns for her as well as him.  She would most likely contest me going for custody of both but not for him alone.

She owned a business, regardless if it posted a loss or not she is "employed" and is still "employable"...so you have a pefectly legitimate argument for non payment of any spousal support. You may, at the very least, end up with a pendente lite order (temp support) but that will be 6 months or less.

Now, on the kids. Honestly, I am not an advocate of split custody of children. It is not healthy, your teen might understand but your younger daughter could wind up questioning why daddy wanted him but not her. (or vice versa) If custody is an issue, then you go for BOTH children.

Not to mention on parenting time, the kids will rarely be together - and siblings need each other.

So rethink that one.

child support may or may not be a wash - it depends on incomes & parenting time.