Appeals court rules man must continue alimony payments

Money can be a serious point of contention during marriage, but for some people, it is an even bigger issue after divorce. California residents often have conflicted feelings about alimony. While some might acknowledge that it is an important part of divorce, others want to make sure that they are paying a reasonable amount. In such cases, a person paying alimony might try to take the matter back to court.

An out-of-state couple had been married for 29 years when they divorced in 2014. At the time, the man was ordered to pay his ex-wife $10,000 per month for a period of 10 years. If she remarried, he would no longer have to pay alimony. In 2015, the woman held what appeared to be a wedding ceremony, and her ex-husband brought the matter to court.

Despite not signing a marriage certificate, the judge overseeing the matter agreed with the ex-husband. He stopped paying alimony, but his ex-wife appealed the decision. A recent ruling by their state’s Court of Appeals concluded that, since the woman had never legally re-married, she was still entitled to receive alimony. Her ex was ordered to continue paying $10,000 per month for the next five years.

Those who have been ordered to pay alimony want to make sure that they are paying the appropriate amount and only for as long as necessary. However, alimony can end up being far more complicated than some people in California might anticipate. Those who are concerned that they are paying too much or who have other related worries are generally well advised to seek advice from an experienced family law attorney.

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