Alimony Reform Association

[CHERIBOB]

This story is about my SO. We have been together since Nov 2000, the year he filed for divorce. I was not a factor in the divorce. He had already moved out & started divorce proceedings before we began to date.

He was married for 12 years. The first 6 years were good. The last 6 years were bad.

He had no children. She had two from a previous marriage. They had no children together.

After 12 years he discovered that she had forged his signature on a HELOC & gambled away $60,000. Plus she had two credit cards he knew nothing about and charged $20,000 on each of them. They sold their house & paid off all debt before the divorce.

The divorce dragged on for 3 years. She got 25% of the 401(k), 25% of the pension. Plus $1,000 for three years RENEWABLE!

He is a chemist. She is a self employed hairstylist. His income is documented. Her income is not documented.

The divorce was final in Feb of 2002. He has been paying her $1,000 month since that time. She took the 401(k) money as soon as she could. She bought a $200,000 townhouse with a declared income of $20,000. Plus she bought a brand new Mitsubishi Eclipse before the divorce was final b/c she thought he would have to make the payments on it!(NOT!)

She filed bankruptcy in 2004. Now she rents an apartment & drives a different car.

In 2005 she petitioned for continuation of alimony for 3 more years. SO's attorney told SO to just go ahead & pay it. Because SO's income had increased & his attorney did not want the alimony to be increased.

Same story in 2008.

SO retired in August 2009. It was a voluntary retirement. He is 56 years old. His company had reduced his hours to 32 hrs/week. Plus they were ending the lump sum distribution option in the pension plan.

He has applied for modification of alimony.

Right now he is in discovery. Ex is claiming all sorts of medical bills & debts from the marriage.

SO says he will go to jail before he pays her one more dollar.

I told him I will visit.