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The Broken Family Court System
Posted by lynne
11/06/08 16:18:00 PST
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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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