Paying alimony during a divorce can put a severe strain on your financial resources, which is why it’s understandable if you want to avoid paying it.
Avoid having to pay it in the first place.
The most effective approach to avoid alimony payments is to avoid them altogether. Some couples choose to protect themselves by entering into a prenuptial agreement. The purpose of this concord is to make both parties’ assets and income public. A lawyer must draft the prenuptial agreement, which a judge must approve before your wedding.
If you don’t intend to pay alimony, you should avoid such an agreement and instead give your spouse a significant portion of your marital assets and a sizable portion of your retirement account. If you do these things, you can avoid paying alimony if you maintain an open line of communication with your spouse.
Negotiate
If you’re getting a legal separation from your spouse, your partner may be ready to accept a more significant property settlement rather than alimony payments. Other items may be essential to your partner but not to you. In place of alimony, you can provide these assets. It would save you a lot of time and money if you and your spouse can agree on the matters, as courts may be highly unpredictable.
Prove Your Spouse’s Infidelity
Proving that the cause of the separation was due to your ex’s dishonesty is another simple and common approach to avoid paying alimony. The court does not give unfaithful spouses access to alimony payments, although regulations vary from state to state.
If your spouse denies the charge, you will need to gather evidence. Your video and photo evidence will be beneficial in this situation. In addition, gather witness testimony and any other incriminating evidence you come across, such as text messages or strange actions you detect.
Downsize Way of Life
You would probably want to make considerable lifestyle changes, particularly if you are paid more than your spouse. You might want to assume a lower-paying job in this circumstance. To put it another way, you must downsize to avoid paying alimony.
Downsizing your salary and living frugally might be the key to avoiding alimony payments. You’ll need to plan and budget your way through, and enlisting the assistance of a financial expert may be just what you need.
Put an end to the marriage.
Your state will most likely assess whether you must pay alimony based on how long you and your spouse have been married. The longer you and your spouse are married, the more alimony payments will be made to your spouse.
If you already know your marriage isn’t going to work out, divorce as soon as possible to avoid paying alimony. The longer you and your spouse are married, the more alimony you’ll have to pay.
Argue Your Case During Trial
If everything else fails and your spouse requests alimony from the court, you will have to present your case to a judge. To do so, you’ll need to know the requirements for the sort of alimony your spouse sought. Then, you will need to offer evidence and witnesses to convince the judge that either your spouse does not require the alimony asked, or you do not have the means to pay the alimony asked.
Contact Lamb, Carroll, Papp and Cunabaugh, P.C., Attorneys at Law today for legal help.