The alimony laws in South Carolina are archaic. They are designed to keep victims of divorce bonded to one another until death. If a man is forced to pay permanent alimony in this state they are at the mercy of the court system. It is left up to a judge’s sole discretion as to how much alimony is to be paid and for how long. A man in this state has absolutely no rights when it comes to alimony. His ex can refuse to work and be paid until the day of his or her death. An ex spouse can continually return to court to ask for more alimony and in most cases the man will be required to not only pay his attorney fees, but also part of her attorney fees. When he retires the alimony does not end. The ex will typically get part of his retirement and also some alimony. When the husband retires he must return to court and ask for a reduction or termination of alimony. This costs him more money each time he must return to court. Any change in circumstances has to be dealt with by a return to court. The court can order the man to pay based on his “ability to pay”. The more money that he can accumulate during his working years actually penalizes him by having more “ability to pay”. The state actually becomes a third party in your marriage. If the man loses his job or the economy bottoms out, it does not excuse him from paying alimony. He can be locked up if he cannot pay. He becomes a criminal for divorcing his ex-wife. The entire system is unjust and unfair. The man actually becomes, for all practical purposes, a slave or indentured servant to his ex-wife.

In Massachusetts a bill is currently being passed, House Bill HR 1785, that will change permanent alimony. It states that “any party needing alimony shall be self-supporting within a reasonable length of time. It defines that period by capping alimony awards at half the duration of a marriage, with a maximum of 12 years unless the supported spouse still has custody of a child or children under 16 years old. The House bill also would require alimony payments after five years to drop 10 percent annually, with the same caveat on custody of minors or if a recipient is unable to be gainfully employed.” If a man remarries in Massachusetts his new wife can be required to help pay and even a girlfriend can be forced to help.  Alimony laws are also being challenged in Florida and North Carolina. It is time for alimony laws to be changed nationwide!