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alimony, anna nicole smith, child support guidelines, CSG, divorce, gold digger, guidelines, inheritance, marriage, money, spousal support, Support guidelines
Can the state ‘grease the skids’ on one of the toughest and most personal decisions one may confront in a lifetime? It sure sounds that way.
Some state’s have always been characterized as alimony friendly. A divorcee who married into money can usually count on more support if he or she may avail themself of that jurisdictions’ law.
However, the influence is often more subtle than Hollywood stereotypes of Anna Nicole Smith and her life’s love. (Incidentally, in 2010 a Federal court held that Anna Nicole’s estate was not entitled to a share of her late husband’s fortune – it took nearly 15 years to settle the matter and the primary parties, Anna Nicole and her ‘step’ brother both died in the interim.)
The inconspicuous incentivizer: child support guidelines. Many states use the concept loosely and child support may often mean something more akin to ‘family support’ meaning that the payor/obligor does simply pay their share of the cost to raise the child in the most equitable way. Instead the obligor pays an amount intended accomplish more, provide support to the custodial parent. An undecided parent torn over their decision to pursue divorce may be swayed by ‘generous support’ under state guidelines.
The problem is that the intention of the jurisdiction is usually to provide ample support for the custodial parent who, in some cases, may be wholly reliant on that support payment to raise the parties’ child. In an effort to ensure healthy amounts, the jurisdiction inadvertently incentivizes the break up of families. Is the occurrence common, definitely not. But even one instance of an incentivized decision on this basis is one too many.
What does your state say about child support? Can you marry into money? For contact information visit the about page of this site!