can I ask for an extension of alimony in Georgia?

[loona]

My court order states:
"Husband will pay wife as alimony amount of $1,000.00 per month beginning June 15, 2006 and on the 15th of every month thereafter for four years. Alimony is based on 22% of husband's income. On June 15, 2008, alimony will be adjusted by the parties to 22% of husband's current income. On June 15, 2009 aliimony will be adjusted by the parties to 22% of the husband's current income."
We were married 20 years; he left me with three daughters; two of them about to start college. I have put them through school with loans and scholarships. I had to sell some property I had (inheritance) and I bought a house for us to live after he left; when he moved out he promised to pay mortgage but never did. My plan was to keep house and sell it in two or three years and gain some equity in order to pay for loans.
Now house prices have dropped and even though I should be able to get some of my money back if I sell the house, it won't be equity for sure. So by the time I pay school loans with that money I'll probably have very little left of the whole proposition.
I requested from him a review of his earnings according to the order but he has refused to cooperate. He was making $60,000/year when order was given. I know he makes more now plus commissions.
I was a homemaker working part-time making very little money when we were married; I have been able to increase my earnings to about $2800/month. I am self employed. With the $1100 he gives me I pay the mortgage.
The house is for sale but no success.
Can I ask for an extension of the alimony when order expires in March of 2010?

[Ohiogal]

Why are you paying bills for other adults? That was a choice YOU made. He doesn't have to bail you out.

[loona]

I thought this was a serious "advice" forum and not a place for someone to vent her bitterness. wow!!!!!!!!!!

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by loona

I thought this was a serious "advice" forum and not a place for someone to vent her bitterness. wow!!!!!!!!!!

So, that means you acknowledge the accuracy of the post made by a family law attorney?

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by loona

My court order states:
"Husband will pay wife as alimony amount of $1,000.00 per month beginning June 15, 2006 and on the 15th of every month thereafter for four years. Alimony is based on 22% of husband's income. On June 15, 2008, alimony will be adjusted by the parties to 22% of husband's current income. On June 15, 2009 aliimony will be adjusted by the parties to 22% of the husband's current income."
We were married 20 years; he left me with three daughters; two of them about to start college. I have put them through school with loans and scholarships. I had to sell some property I had (inheritance) and I bought a house for us to live after he left; when he moved out he promised to pay mortgage but never did. My plan was to keep house and sell it in two or three years and gain some equity in order to pay for loans.
Now house prices have dropped and even though I should be able to get some of my money back if I sell the house, it won't be equity for sure. So by the time I pay school loans with that money I'll probably have very little left of the whole proposition.
I requested from him a review of his earnings according to the order but he has refused to cooperate. He was making $60,000/year when order was given. I know he makes more now plus commissions.
I was a homemaker working part-time making very little money when we were married; I have been able to increase my earnings to about $2800/month. I am self employed. With the $1100 he gives me I pay the mortgage.
The house is for sale but no success.
Can I ask for an extension of the alimony when order expires in March of 2010?

I am a little confused.

Are you living in a house that you purchased with your inheritance, but paying a mortgage on another house that no one is living in? If so, why? Why didn't you continue living in the marital home until it sold, or could be sold for the price you wanted? Why aren't you renting it out rather than leaving it empty?

The divorce decree specifically allowed for a recalculation of alimony in 2008 and 2009. You should have filed for contempt as soon as he refused to cooperate with that process.

[loona]

Thanks for your reply. No, when he left I stayed in marital home; he promised to pay mortgage. He did not. I was working very "part time." My family helped me to pay mortgage until I sold the house which was on the verge of foreclosure. My equity on that house went to repay them. I was forced then to sell a piece of land (inheritance) and bought this house otherwise my daughters and I would have had no place to live.
I gave a large down payment and had a plan to sell it in two or three years; if the economy had not turned this way I would have made enough money to repay their college education. That plan is gone.
That is one reason I accepted the 4 years alimony after being married to him for 21 years and being a homemaker. I did not want to fight so much; he had commited adultery and I wanted out. My mistake.
I have eventually being able to work more and increase my income to $34,500/year. He made $77,000 last year. He still works in the same field he always has for the last 30 years. I am a legal interpreter and self employed with all its implications - no health insurance, and extra taxes at the end of the year.

[Ohiogal]

And you most likely will NOT be able to extend your alimony. You are making a liveable wage. It was YOUR choice to pay for your adult children to go to college. THEY could have done that. That was a voluntary expense.

[loona]

Please Ohigal; don't answer my postings you are very rude. I was answering somebody else's question. Thanks!!!

[Blue Meanie]

Originally Posted by loona

Please Ohigal; don't answer my postings you are very rude. I was answering somebody else's question. Thanks!!!

Ohiogal is an attorney. Don't be an idiot. Listen to her.

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

Originally Posted by loona

Please Ohigal; don't answer my postings you are very rude. I was answering somebody else's question. Thanks!!!

Since you obviously don't want the advice of a volunteer attorney, might I suggest:

Pretty please with sugar on top:

GO.PAY.AN.ATTORNEY.

[Ohiogal]

Originally Posted by loona

Please Ohigal; don't answer my postings you are very rude. I was answering somebody else's question. Thanks!!!

Rude? oh okay. You want rude? I can start being rude. You are NOT welcome! Loonie bird the only bitter person here is YOU! Because hubby won't have to pay you after March 2010.