Alimony & Child Support are No Longer Predominantly for Women

[Source: KTLA 5 News]

Top Family Law Attorney Peter M. Walzer Discusses How More Women Are Paying Alimony & Child Support on KTLA 5 News.

Alimony & Child Support are No Longer Predominantly for Women. Celebrities like Mel B., Mary J. Blige, Britney Spears were all sued for spousal support. Those payments are not limited just to starts. The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers reports a rise in Women being sued by their ex-husbands. Joining us is top family law attorney Peter M. Walzer, founding partner of the law firm Walzer Melcher based in Los Angeles, California. What’s behind the jump in women paying more alimony? “I think it’s basically equality and rightfully so. Women want to be in the same place as men but often are marrying men who don’t make as much as they are, so the courts are ordering them to pay spousal support and they don’t like it,” explains high net worth divorce attorney Peter M. Walzer. How much money are they talking about? How did they decide? What’s the formula?

“There’s a formula. Basically, 50% of your net income less 40% of the lower earner’s net income. So if you are making a lot more than your spouse, you are going to pay alimony according to basically a formula,” reports top family law attorney Peter M. Walzer.

I would imagine there are other factors that can alter alimony and child support payments. “Yes, there are assets, children…In some cases, people are paying 50% of their net income to their spouse for child and spousal support. So there are many other factors, but basically, it’s formulaic,” states California family law attorney Peter M. Walzer. Are there certain jobs where more women are paying men than the other way around? “Women have really excelled in their professions. Whether it’s doctors, lawyers, accountants, and they are getting into situations where their spouses or husbands can’t make as much money as they can,” states divorce lawyer Peter M. Walzer. What if any future changes could impact alimony payments?

“Definitely, there’s a big change in the new year. Alimony is no longer going to be tax deductible to the payor or taxable to the payee and it will change how people are paying support and people will be paying more support under the new tax laws,” explains top divorce attorney Peter M. Walzer.

Peter M. Walzer is president of The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and founding partner of Walzer Melcher Family Law. For more information, check out https://walzermelcher.com. © 2018 Tribune Broadcasting Inc. No claims made to copyrighted material. Aired on 11-29-18