Divorced Dad Seeks to Eliminate Spousal Support in California

Divorce attorneys in Orange County; The Maggio Law FirmA divorced dad in Orange County, California is calling for an overhaul of alimony laws, saying they are archaic and used unfairly by divorcing spouses to extract more money from their partners.

Businessman Steve Clark has claimed that current alimony laws were drafted when most women did not work. Women now comprise nearly half of the work force in the United States.

Alimony, also known as spousal support, is the payment one spouse makes to another after a divorce, based on a court decision or an agreement between the couple.

Clark decided to take action after his divorce culminated in long-term alimony of $1000 a month to his ex-wife, even though she works and has the ability to be financially independent, based on current California law factors.

In many divorce cases, the spouse with the higher income may end up paying alimony. However, a number of factors are considered when determining payments, such as the duration of the marriage, standard of living, financial obligations and more.

Clark is petitioning to end alimony via his website, calalimonyreform.org. He must collect at least 365,880 signatures from state voters by November 2nd for the bid to qualify for the 2016 state ballot.

If the controversial initiative is passed, alimony would no longer be awarded during divorces, legal separations and annulments. Existing alimony payments that were to end within 10 years would also stop, unless a court extension is granted.

divorce_attorneyGerald A. Maggio is an experienced Orange County divorce and family law attorney and family law attorney located in Irvine, California, serving the Orange County and Riverside areas. Mr. Maggio assists clients with legal issues including divorce, legal separation, divorce mediation, child custody, prenuptial agreements, stepparent adoptions, and other family law issues. Mr. Maggio has practiced law in California since 1999, and founded The Maggio Law Firm in 2005, focusing exclusively on divorce and family law matters.

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