Couples planning to divorce in Connecticut may be in for a surprise if one group gets their way. According to reports, a team of four legal professionals are attempting to change the way that alimony is determined in the state. This would be the first change since 1973, when the current statute was enacted.
It is unclear whether the group’s attempt will be successful, as many are opposed to a major detail of the proposed plan: the equation used to determine the amount of spousal support. Some have reported that many important factors will be excluded by simplifying an alimony determination into a math problem. That equation is expected to be as follows: 30 percent of the wealthier spouse’s annual gross income subtracted by 20 percent of the other spouse’s annual gross income.
This means that a woman making $200,000 per year would have to pay her husband if he made any less. If he made $50,000 per year, the equation would take 30 percent of her income-$60,000-and subtracted 20 percent of his-$10,000. This means that she would pay him $50,000 per year in spousal support, in effect doubling his current income.
This has been a source of controversy. According to supporters of the proposal, the changes would make family law cases much easier to deal with. As already mentioned though, making things this simple could exclude a lot of details that could alter the way that a current alimony determination would be handled. Opponents believe that the proposal removes power from the judge; many do not want to see the 40-year-old mandate altered.
Regardless of how alimony law turns out, it is smart for those involved in a divorce case to have an attorney on their side. This can give them the ability to navigate the legal realm with more options, potentially allowing them to have a stronger divorce case.
Source: ctlawtribune.com, “Alimony Reform Proposal Proves To Be Controversial,” Thomas B. Scheffey, April 9, 2013