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A growing number of women are ordered to pay alimony

On Behalf of | May 30, 2018 | Alimony |

Alimony – also referred to as spousal maintenance – can be a major point of contention when a marriage ends in divorce in Colorado. Understanding how state law views these issues is an important factor when the process is moving forward. However, it is also important to keep a close eye on trends as to who pays the alimony and how much it will be. Oftentimes, there has been a perception that the male in the relationship will end up paying the support. In recent years, however, that has changed, and more women are being ordered to pay alimony and other forms of support to their ex-husbands.

Surveys among attorneys who specialize in these cases say that more than half have seen a rise in the number of mothers who are paying child support after a divorce. 45 percent say they have seen a greater number of women who pay alimony. There are many potential reasons for this, including the number of women who are earning more money from their employment. Lifestyle factors, no matter how frivolous they might seem, are considered when these payments are ordered and this will factor into the alimony payments.

In the past, it was almost expected that the male in the relationship would pay alimony to the female. Many women are stunned that they will be ordered to pay to support their former husband, even in cases in which the woman is highly-educated and successful in her job. Women are increasingly being viewed as the breadwinner in the household. The percentage of women who were the breadwinner in a home with children under 18 has risen fourfold from 1960 to 2013. More than 31 percent of single fathers who have custody of children received support in 2016. Slightly more than 52 percent of single mothers could say the same.

There are many factors that are considered when a former spouse is ordered to receive alimony, including: how long the couple was married; what the financial situation is; what the standard of living was while the couple was married; and the ability on the part of the paying spouse to support the former spouse as well as him or herself. While it was once automatically assumed that the male would pay the female alimony, that is changing. For people who are in the middle of a divorce and have concerns over spousal maintenance, getting the right legal help is crucial.