Fathers face a double whammy during a divorce because they face paying both child support and alimony. Fathers child support rights have been suppressed for decades, but fathers are beginning to make progress in winning at least partial support of their children. However, many fathers still find themselves with bills for both child support and alimony. Even if they agree with child support determinations, they may wish to contest alimony decisions.
Child support and alimony are two distinct areas of family law. Therefore, a court may require a father to make payments to support the upbringing of his children and payments to support his former spouse. Though child support payments are typically easy to quantify and justify, the same cannot be said for alimony. In fact, many former spouses attempt to “pad” the numbers in order to receive additional support.
Alimony is based on several factors, including the lifestyle of the couple prior to divorce and the amount of time it will take for the formerly dependent spouse to become financially self-sufficient. An ex who has no desire to work may overestimate the amount of monthly income required to continue the lifestyle. Another deceitful approach that is common is exaggerating the amount of time it will take to increase knowledge or skills in order to get a job.
A father may feel helpless during this process but a father’s rights lawyer can help. In addition to fighting for a father’s equal custody rights, the attorney will ensure that alimony decisions are fair and impartial. Fathers should never be forced to pay all of their income to support their former spouses. They too have a right to live comfortably following a divorce.
Increasingly, fathers are on the receiving end of spousal support payments. They should receive an amount that enables living without having to make sacrifices. If recipient fathers find themselves living hand-to-mouth, an attorney may ask the court to reconsider the determination. By addressing this issue as soon as it arises, a father will avoid financial problems in the future.
A father’s rights extend beyond custody of children to the right to an affordable payment for spousal support. Fathers who are on the receiving end of this support are also entitled to receive a reasonable payment. If alimony decisions seem unfair, an attorney will help iron out the disparities with the court so a mutually acceptable determination can be reached.
