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One of the first things that needs to be addressed in a commission on women, is the family court system. With 50% of marriages ending in divorce, the financial strains on women (and consequently children) after divorce is catastrophic.
It is far too easy and common for men with sales types of positions to "sand bag" their earnings for a few years in order to minimize their support payments. My former husband, an Ivy league graduate and investment banker has claimed earnings of $50,000 per year after making well over a million for our 14 year marriage. After paying our health care premium, I am left with $800 per month to pay my mortgage, utilities, food, clothing, insurance, etc. etc. He has refused to help with our 3 children in any way. Thus I have 100% custody and am forced to pay at least 85% of their expenses. Meanwhile he has purchased a new $6 million dollar home and travels the world. The judge told me that it does not matter how much he spends, support is based on income and he simply claims little to none. I have spoken to the family court here in California (where things are supposed to be "better" for women) and they whole heatedly agree that the one-size-fits-all system helps no one and is totally broken. I know some very sweet men who are divorced but I also know many (like my ex) who are incredibly vindictive for having been left!!! Men can be far more bitter than women and subsequently willing hurt their children as a means of seeking revenge on their ex-wives. (Everyone knows...if you want to really hurt a woman - hurt her children.) I would be more than willing to help on any commission addressing this very important economic issue affecting millions of women and children.
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11/07/08 17:15pm PST TodaysCreativeBlog
I too have seen this with friends. You're right, it's messed up. It always surprises me how a man can do that to his own children? He's got to be hiding the money somewhere. -
11/07/08 08:05am PST 914
This is important. My daughter did without any extras growing up while she had three half sisters who had every advantage. Still her stepmother doesn't like her to come visit once a year because her father might give her $50.00 if he's in a good mood. The man never paid one dime toward her care and forgot she existed which probably doesn't say much about my choice in a husband.. -
11/06/08 18:15pm PST alexandra_rudansky
Thank you for addressing this important issue. My father, whom I know longer speak to, is very similar to your ex-husband-- he is also an Ivy League graduate who has had a successful job in his family business for years, yet he claims to have "little to no" work experience, with an extremely low salary. My mother is also the sole custodian guardian of my sister and me, and it has not been easy. It continues to amaze me how fathers manage to legally get away with these things, while everyone involved in the case knows the truth. Court system reform is definitely in demand.
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In the 1980's in Texas the local judges could set child support based on past earnings. I know this for a fact- I knew one of the young men this happened to. He quit his management job ,left Wichita Falls, taking a job in central Texas. The judge set the support payment at his old salary and in addition required that he provide health care. Is it no longer the case that the county judges who grant divorces (or whatever the title is in Calif.) no longer have the autonomy to set the support payments ? I personally never got a penny in support. It was annoying . It hurst the children. How do you explain that Daddy does not love you enough to support you?