Comments on: Florida Lawmakers Take Aim At Alimony

By: George

George — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 00:28:44 +0000

I have not been affected by alimony, but for sure, you have my support to limit the self-regulated divorce industry and their predatory practices, which I consider borderline criminal. Alimony reform is necessary to promote a healthy financial and emotional balance in a post divorce family. The way the law read and it is implemented now allows unscrupulous family lawyers to push people into financial enslavement

By: JB

JB — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:29:16 +0000

The Florida alimony laws are irrational and unfair. They do not help people in need or people who are disadvantaged. In most cases, as with mine, they facilitate gluttony and vanity. How is it fair for one spouse who has given 20 years has a career professional, good husband, and father to give a six figures each year to someone who chose to do nothing except self-serving activities for 14 years? While I go to to work each day to support this posh lifestyle of hers, she goes to the gym and shopping while living in my ex-house with her lawn service boyfriend who I suspect was in the picture well before we were divorced (not of course considering all the other boyfriends she had while we were still married). Is that really what the laws intended? Something has to change, this is ridiculous.

By: Patsy Green

Patsy Green — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 23:18:30 +0000

regarding “Our conservative principles are gone out of the window ”

One conservative principle is that a man who has made a committment to one wife and family does not go scott free when he later finds someone more appealing and wants to abancdon those to whom he has responsibilities.

How is this bill conservative?

By: judy

judy — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 03:03:56 +0000

Well sorry about the guys from first few post but I was married 25years and my ex lied to his lawyer and judge got away with everything left me on streets without anything I get 20.00 dollars a week and after not having worked in the most of 25 years no one would hire a 47 year old so stop whining and go pay
for a 5000.00 lawyer like my ex did he got the house one block from my moms 6 cars and all house goods

By: CJ

CJ — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 16:26:43 +0000

I disagree with lifetime alimony for women/ men who say that they were forced to stay home while their husbands/ wives worked. I think it’s wrongly unjust to punish these men and women who have had to work, and now that they are divorced they are forced to pay lifetime alimony. But yet you have to keep them connected for life? The legal system in Florida believes its okay to give them a better lifestyle then when they were married? My brother was forced to move in with me with his two children, while the one who cheated, lied and abused the children was granted the marital home and awarded lifetime alimony. WOW! Great that the judge awarded her with that behavior, all the while for over a year my brother and his kids had to sleep on my floor as I really didn’t have the room. It was also okay with the judge that I help take care of two more kids, while their dad had to work more just so his ex could have her vacations and live her life to the max. These laws need to be changed! Stop this “alimony lottery” for the payee’s who are quite capable of working and living off the alimony system. Get your head out of the sand and set these people free to live their lives and be able to move on!

By: JP

JP — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 16:21:11 +0000

I also am an alimony payer was married 19 years, divorced she got 85% of everything, but I got the kids. She pays no child support but I have to pay lifetime alimony to someone who not only cheated, lied and manipulated all throughout the marriage, but I am paying that same person who physically and emotionally abused my kids. Not to mention where is divorce really a divorce? I can not help my children out but I have to pay for someone who plays the system. Has her live in boyfriend. Not only is she getting lifetime alimony but I am also considered retired in which she is also getting a paycheck from that too. It seems to me that she is getting a half of half of some more half’s, or double dipping. She is entitled to a lifestyle that my children and I don’t even get to have. We are not in the 40’s and 50’s anymore. My ex was employed at the time of our divorce. As soon as the judge handed her lifetime alimony she decided she didn’t need to work anymore. I don’t know how this makes sense to anyone. She goes on vacation, sky diving, motorcycle classes, zip line etc…And me and the kids live paycheck to pay check. Their mother really isn’t involved with their lives. Due to my high risk job, according to the statistics the survival rate is 9 1/2 years after retirement. With as much as the judge awarded her, you would think she worked my job. When are the lawyers going to wake up? When they go through this nightmare? I am not only fighting for myself, but also fighting for my two girls so they never have to worry about being future alimony payers. I’m not against paying alimony to help get the other person on their feet. But paying for life? That’s just slavery!

By: Joel Wall

Joel Wall — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 00:59:29 +0000

My ex wanted the divorce and cheated on me the last 3 years of our marriage with several different guys and I have proof. She said to my face that she’s going to stay at home and sit back collecting alimony from me for the rest of my life. She has a Bachelor degree in accounting and is perfectly able to get a job, but refuses. We have been divorced for three years and is still having affairs and refuses to re-marry. (I wonder why!) I am forced to continue working (have 33 years in now) and it has put a heavy financial burden on me. I have my older sons college I’m paying on and will have my younger son going to college this fall. She doesn’t help or lift a finger to help. If I retire, she gets half of my retirement, which is 25% less that what I make now. I have spent almost $35K in attorney fees and still owe $15K, And after 2 years of divorce she is still dragging me to court demanding more and fight the court’s final settlement. She has received well over and above half of everything and continues to fight for more. I see now that divorces for some are being used as a business. If she wanted the divorce, then part ways and move on!

By: bill

bill — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 20:38:56 +0000

I think Mike hit the nail on the head. Good post!

By: Lars

Lars — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 20:11:42 +0000

Let me ask you this, why should I have to give my spouse who cheated on me repeatedly, for which I have proof (video tape), a single solitary dime.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:19:04 +0000

There is nothing wrong with short term alimony to enable an ex spouse to get some job training and a career, but awarding life time or long term alimony is terribly unjust, and should be stopped.