Alimony and Support

Most people operate under the assumption that there is money to be made in a divorce. That's usually not true, and the more money there is, the more the lawyers will take.

There are income tables that will dictate the amount of support that Lousy will pay. It is not generally affected by the fact that Lousy is lousy. You will end up at virtually the same place, as if the split was amicable. Ugh!

You must be honest with your lawyer and your spouse about your assets and liabilities. It is at this point that some lawyers may dismiss you - if there's no money to go after, then you may not be worth their time. Yeah, lousy lawyers.

You need to calculate every expense that your child has. Some may be regular and monthly, and those that are not need to be covered in language in your PSA. Those regular monthly expenses may be the responsibility of the custodial parent to pay, but the non-custodial parent has to help with them financially.

A Lousy may quit working, shuffle around their assets or pay structure in an effort to pay less support. Yeah, that's lousy, but it won't work either. In determining your income - both parties must present a number of years worth of income tax returns. If Lousy made a $60 grand salary last year, and is making only $8 an hour now flipping burgers, it is all taken into account. If you've both been cheating on your taxes for years then you may be screwed, but that's kind of an I-told-you-so moment for the government. Honesty is the best policy.

Child Support is different from alimony and is awarded to the custodial parent. You may not get any alimony, but if you have that custody, then you are entitled to support payments. There is a minimum amount that is standard, and that may be all you get, but it's better than nothing.

If you are paying or receiving either of these support payments consult with your accountant as there are differences in the tax liabilities.



Please Note: The information provided herein is a guide only. Our readers and members should seek professional help from counselors, financial experts and attorneys as needed.