A survey published by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) in 2018 shows that the number of women who find themselves paying child or spousal support increased in recent years. Some legal analysts suspect that this emerging trend may be a sign that the earning power gender gap that once existed between women and men is slowly but surely closing.
AAML researchers surveyed 1,650 family law attorneys as part of their study. At least 45% reported an increase in women paying spousal support over the last three years. An estimated 54% noted upticks in moms having to pay child support.
There’s been a stark increase in the number of women listed as the head of households (HOH) in recent years. Data compiled by the Pew Research Center in 2013 showed that 40% of families had moms as HOH compared to 11% in 1960. Researchers at VeryWell Family also uncovered how over 52% of women who retain custody of their children receive alimony, whereas just over 31% of men do.
Some legal analysts suspect that the uptick in women paying alimony may be due to the reduced earnings gap between males and females in this country and an increasing trend for their husbands to become underemployed.
There are cases where husbands transitioned from having high-earning careers in the financial industry to taking on a military role. There are other instances in which husbands’ wives have worked their way up to take on executive roles only to find their relationships crumble. It’s when they’ve filed for divorce that many women discovered they were obligated to pay alimony to their exes to help keep them in the lifestyles to which they grew accustomed during their marriages.
Divorce isn’t easy for anyone. It’s far worse if you feel forced to pay your hard-earned money to your soon-to-be ex-spouse because they didn’t exercise their full earning potential.
An alimony attorney can help you understand the different types of spousal support in Florida. Your Fort Myers lawyer can then help you understand what type of alimony is appropriate in your situation and help you broker a deal with your ex that allows you to keep as much money in your pockets as possible.
