alimony modification

[Astarte]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Georgia
How easy is it to modify alimony in GA? Got divorced 5/06 and my ex's company just down-sized. He is 52 and actively seeking new employment. I'm 60 and fought long and hard for my settlement. Due to illness, I cannot hold a full-time job. How easy is it to get alimony reduced in GA?

[Bali Hai]

Originally Posted by Astarte

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Georgia
How easy is it to modify alimony in GA? Got divorced 5/06 and my ex's company just down-sized. He is 52 and actively seeking new employment. I'm 60 and fought long and hard for my settlement. Due to illness, I cannot hold a full-time job. How easy is it to get alimony reduced in GA?

You fought long and hard for YOUR settlement?? You should have put a clause in your decree that the ex-husbands company was strictly forbidden from downsizing!!

[Astarte]

Guess I know who's side you're on. This man had multiple affairs and left me with a great deal of debt. I am not of the opinion that all men buy expensive condos and a BMW then want to skip paying an ex-wife of 20 years after just 2 years. And all women are not greedy. It's called survival.

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by Astarte

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Georgia
How easy is it to modify alimony in GA? Got divorced 5/06 and my ex's company just down-sized. He is 52 and actively seeking new employment. I'm 60 and fought long and hard for my settlement. Due to illness, I cannot hold a full-time job. How easy is it to get alimony reduced in GA?

It is not easy to reduce alimony, but if its clear that he cannot get another job making the same money, eventually he will get it reduced.

[deecopperpot]

Time to face the music and realize that eventually you will have to change your standard of living as all do when they retire. You alimony recipients are sad that you think you can continue to live in the life style that you like even when your husband loses his job or retires. If you were still married...you would have to change your life style. Start cutting back on your expenses now ...as the day will come.

It will be our day when my fiance's wife starts to realize that....living in a 3200 sq ft house alone, with the cars, the furniture and a beefy alimony amount....and working part time selling perfume.... is not going to happen anymore.

Her day will come too and then we will start having a life. I do not receive alimony by the way...I take care of myself!

[tuffbrk]

Originally Posted by Astarte

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Georgia
How easy is it to modify alimony in GA? Got divorced 5/06 and my ex's company just down-sized. He is 52 and actively seeking new employment. I'm 60 and fought long and hard for my settlement. Due to illness, I cannot hold a full-time job. How easy is it to get alimony reduced in GA?

Are you hoping that it's difficult?! The gentleman is paying you, was laid off through no fault of his own, is actively seeking employment and your concern is how easy it will be for him to get a reduction if he's unsuccessful in obtaining comparable employment?

You do realize how this comes across right? He will have to be able to either represent himself OR be able to afford an attorney in order to get it reduced as it appears that you won't be amicable about any reduction if needed.

[nextwife]

Originally Posted by tuffbrk

Are you hoping that it's difficult?! The gentleman is paying you, was laid off through no fault of his own, is actively seeking employment and your concern is how easy it will be for him to get a reduction if he's unsuccessful in obtaining comparable employment?

You do realize how this comes across right? He will have to be able to either represent himself OR be able to afford an attorney in order to get it reduced as it appears that you won't be amicable about any reduction if needed.

Thing is, if a couple HAS stayed together, they would EACH be living with loss of job, or downsized income. This whole idea that if you divorce someone and they THEN get downsized income, through market changes that affect all of us working people, you should be financially protected by having GUARANTEED income is hard for me to understand. I'm 54 and DH is 62, and we've seen drops in both of our incomes and adjusted discretionary spending accordingly. And adjusted how much we spend supporting our little kiddo.

I's sure hate to be FORCED to keep spending as if I was still making what I used to make, even though I'm now earning less. What I found last year is that, at 50+, one needs to be open to earning less to get employed in this market. Better a lower paying job than no job.

[tuffbrk]

//blatant hijack here// So Sorry to the OP//

Nextwife-
I'm so on the same page. I am continually amazed at the number of people who are on the receiving end of some benefit or other who are unprepared to manage when the party paying has a change in circumstances. It highlights the total lack of responsibility that a grown adult has for themselves and/or their family. Which is why someone else wound up with having to pay alimony/SS in the first place!

IMHO, the courts continuing to award long term alimony/SS payments merely reinforces the concept to the receiver that someone else is responsible for their welfare - even after divorce. The courts don't care as it keeps folks using their services in the family court merry go round (no offense to OG!). Meanwhile, I keep thinking of the parable that if you want to help someone eat, teach them to fish, don't just give them a fish.

Limited duration is more appropriate as it forces the party to take responsibility for themselves as they know that ultimately they will need to do so.

Can't help but wonder how many folks end up on state assistance regardless of the initial alimony/SS award due to changed circumstances? Especially those whose ex=spouses pass away and the receiving party learns that there hadn't been an insurance policy maintained...would be interesting to analyze.

//end of hijack//