Spousal Support after 15 years of not working but now making $50,000 a year?

[calliefive]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA
I am inquiring about spousal support between my husband and me. He works and makes about 90,000 a year. I have not worked full time for about 15 years due to staying home raising the kids. I am pretty sure we are headed for divorce. In a panic, I started searching for a job and found a great one and I make about 50,000 a year. I am not worried about working and making money, but I am worried for when I get older and need money to live on. How will spousal support work for someone like me? Thanks for any advice you can give.

 

[Proserpina]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA
I am inquiring about spousal support between my husband and me. He works and makes about 90,000 a year. I have not worked full time for about 15 years due to staying home raising the kids. I am pretty sure we are headed for divorce. In a panic, I started searching for a job and found a great one and I make about 50,000 a year. I am not worried about working and making money, but I am worried for when I get older and need money to live on. How will spousal support work for someone like me? Thanks for any advice you can give.

Spousal support is supposed to be based upon need. California however likes to do things a little differently, and by CA standards you have a long-term marriage and you'd generally qualify for lifetime support if the court determines that you do actually need support.

You have to bear in mind though, what will you do if your husband becomes disabled? Or, perish the thought, dies?

You should expect your husband to argue that you're more than capable of supporting yourself on $50k, and thus do not need his support.

 

[stealth2]

And remember - you are also entitled to a share of his pension, and may qualify to draw upon his SS when he retires.

 

[LdiJ]

And remember - you are also entitled to a share of his pension, and may qualify to draw upon his SS when he retires.

I agree. The marital property settlement should give you half of any retirement assets that accrued during the marriage. Assuming that you roll those over into retirement account(s) of your own, and assuming that you contribute to retirement accounts from your current income, you should be able to cover your own retirement.

 

[Bali Hai]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA
I am inquiring about spousal support between my husband and me. He works and makes about 90,000 a year. I have not worked full time for about 15 years due to staying home raising the kids. I am pretty sure we are headed for divorce. In a panic, I started searching for a job and found a great one and I make about 50,000 a year. I am not worried about working and making money, but I am worried for when I get older and need money to live on. How will spousal support work for someone like me? Thanks for any advice you can give.

I'm worried for when I get older and need money to live on how will I get it? I can't get a job because the law has given women hiring preference.

 

[Proserpina]

I'm worried for when I get older and need money to live on how will I get it? I can't get a job because the law has given women hiring preference.

That's lame, even for you.

 

[single317dad]

And there were so many actual, valid arguments to be made. Sigh.

 

[Bali Hai]

And there were so many actual, valid arguments to be made. Sigh.

Let's hear them. The problem is that nobody wants to make an argument here against alimony, especially for women, except me.

OP says she has a good job and wants more security because of what? She worked part time to stay home raising kids and deserves payment? Contrary to what you people attempt to sell, that was HER choice.

 

[Ohiogal]

Let's hear them. The problem is that nobody wants to make an argument here against alimony, especially for women, except me.

OP says she has a good job and wants more security because of what? She worked part time to stay home raising kids and deserves payment? Contrary to what you people attempt to sell, that was HER choice.

Many people on here are NOT pro alimony and have made arguments against such. Including women. Including me. And her husband had a say so in the choice of her to stay home and raise the children as well. If he didn't like it, he could have divorced her then. He chose to stay married.

You do not like the laws in California, petition to change them.

 

[single317dad]

Let's hear them. The problem is that nobody wants to make an argument here against alimony, especially for women, except me.

OP says she has a good job and wants more security because of what? She worked part time to stay home raising kids and deserves payment? Contrary to what you people attempt to sell, that was HER choice.

OPs here are regularly told to get a job and stop leeching off their ex-spouses. You simply choose to selectively wear your blinders.

 

[Proserpina]

Let's hear them. The problem is that nobody wants to make an argument here against alimony, especially for women, except me.

The problem is that you can't get past the simple fact that you made your own bed and instead have to blame someone, anyone, for your own failings. Why is that?

OP says she has a good job and wants more security because of what? She worked part time to stay home raising kids and deserves payment? Contrary to what you people attempt to sell, that was HER choice.

Show us again where anybody has attempted to "sell" anything to this OP.

Oh. That's right. Nobody.

Well, nobody except for you who is still after all this time trying to sell your tale of woe and quite frankly your ex-wife clearly deserves every single penny she's ever received from you.

Stop trying to blame the rest of the world for your own mess. You're the only person responsible for your bitterness and your sadness.

 

[Ohiogal]

Spoken like a woman that blames all the problems in the world on men. Why don't you go eat a crumpet.

Bali, considering you blame all your problems on everyone else, you are being hypocritical. Knock it off. Try taking responsibility for your life and not blaming the rest of the world. Your constant whining is ridiculous and immature.

 

[ecmst12]

Not her choice alone. It was a choice that they made together as a couple.