Alimony, Disability, Different County

[SES]

My wife left me during my life threatening health challenge (toxic mold exposure) that placed me in intensive care for 14 days and rehab for more than a year. She took all of our savings out of the bank and then filed for divorce.

I was so sick, I pleaded with the female judge for a postponement. She denied my request, held the hearing without me and awarded my wife 100% of our home, 100% of our savings, 100% of my pension, 100% of our cars, $5000 in legal fees and $500 a month in alimony in spite of the fact that I had been fired from my job for being sick for so long and the fact that my wife had a full time office administrator position with salary and benefits!

I never regained my health and was awarded permanent full disability. My wife's alimony award takes a substantial and devastating portion of my disability pay. I cannot afford food or shelter or transportation. I went from a hard working, successfully employed professional to someone relying on friends for support because of my illness and then this ridiculous divorce award.

A friend of the family whose wife passed away from cancer took me in to his home in another county.

How can I stop paying this devastating and completely unfair alimony award?

Since I now live in another county, is there anything her county can do to me if I stop paying?

Can I be forced to pay a substantial amount of my Social Security disability to a woman who a woman in another county who literally has no need for support?

Thank you,

SES

[Attorney Howard Iken]

It is hard to understand how this happened.

But you appear to qualify for a modification of alimony. You need to go through required procedures to file for the modification.

[SES]

I literally have NO funds to hire an attorney to file a modification of alimony. I am on disability. I have contacted several attorneys in that county and they want $2000 to $3000 with no guarantee of a positive outcome.

Since I live in another county, is there anything that can happen to me if I stop paying?

[Attorney Cheri Hobbs]

It doesn't matter what county or state you live in. IF you stop paying your ex can file a Motion for Enforcement and you will have to go to a hearing. Make sure the clerk of court has your updated contact information so you will receive any court documents. You don't want to miss another hearing. You can contact an attorney at our firm to discuss possible flat fee paperwork only solutions.

[SES]

I just saw a news feature on NEWS 9 concerning alimony. According to their staff attorney, if you live in another county and stop paying alimony, there is no way for the awarding county to "enforce" the order. They claim it is a loophole a congressman is trying to fix.

"You can contact an attorney" is not an applicable answer for most disabled persons or even husbands for that matter. The court system is not designed to be fair or logical or affordable. If I had ANY funds for an attorney, I would have already done so. Two hours of attorney fees equal my month's disability wages. Do I just stop eating for 6 months? Live under a bridge?

The system is set up to reward litigous attorneys and dishonest spouses looking to improve their finances. It is, in effect, modern day slavery of male spouses forced against their will to pay someone else.

Since you are an attorney, I understand your "contact an attorney" statement. It's not that simple. Men like me have been financially devastated by unjust rulings in unjust courts.

[Attorney Howard Iken]

That would be a complete surprise to us, and the courts we regularly appear in. We constantly enforce alimony that was ordered in another county. You may have misinterpreted what they said.

In any case, it is completely wrong.

[SES]

Here's the link to the News 9 video. A congressman is trying to change the loophole they say. A judge can order but the state does not allow the order to go into the statewide database therefore making it unenforcable.

Loophole May Allow Former Spouses To Avoid alimony - Video - WFTV Orlando

[Attorney Howard Iken]

You had me curious - so I looked at the video.

I believe this is an example of how news agencies create their own sensational story. The story is about a criminal database maintained by the state of Florida. The news story revolves around the fact that the agency that maintains this database does not want to get involved in alimony enforcement.

Alimony is a civil matter - not a criminal matter. And courts will routinely enforce an alimony order. It does not matter if the person paying alimony moves out of the county or out of the state - courts will still enforce the order.

The news story does not contain anything new or unique. Alimony is enforceable - period.