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Q. I am sober, but my husband still drinks. Do I qualify for alimony? |
Dear Donna,
I have been sober for 8 years, but my husband still drinks and he is verbally abusive, for which I go to counseling. We have been married for 10 years, lived together for 16 years and don't have any children. We have come to such a stalemate and are in a very low-income, no job area in Utah. My question is this...Do I qualify for alimony? I am in school and would like to finish to be able to support myself. Thank you so much for your time and expertise. ~Unpaid in Utah
Dear Unpaid,
Kudos to you for your long sobriety! And kudos for pursuing your education. You have your "priorities on straight", as my mother used to say. Your next wise moves are to analyze your financial picture so that you will understand the impact of making changes on the family front. This way, you get to be the chooser of your circumstances. You'll need the advice of two professionals, a family law attorney and a financial advisor. I'd suggest your first stop be with the financial advisor, because the homework you'll do there will help you get the best advice from the lawyer. The financial advisor can help you get an accurate picture of your family assets and debts, income and expenses. Several "what if" scenarios can be run to let you look at a variety of options. Then you'll be ready to see a local attorney for legal advice. You'll want to know about the possibilities of alimony, and you'll also want to know if your husband might have any claims on you if he helps put you through school.
The Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts, can help you find a financial planner familiar with divorce. There also may be legal clinics in your area or a women's center at your university, where you can find free or low cost legal help.
Good luck!
Donna
This article is not legal advice. You should consult an attorney if you have legal questions that relate to your specific divorce.
