Anonymous wrote:So if you started your business BEFORE you married, would the outcome be the same ... your spouse still gets half?

Depends on the circumstances. Likely no to half. But it could be substantial depending on the growth of the business post marriage. Most business owners would have a prenup. Especially if they have partners in their business.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to government data, men pay 99 percent of all alimony dollars paid in the US.

I’m willing to bet that data is at least 10-15 years old and includes a lot of marriages that ended 20 years before that.

I think if you looked at alimony awarded in 2022, a much higher percentage would be paid by women.

Two reasons the proportion is remaining lopsided:
1. Men feel ashamed to ask for alimony.
2. Women push back very strongly when a man asks for alimony, even if she makes a lot more than him - in effect women shame men out of asking for it.

Do you have any evidence that it IS remaining lopsided? Or out of proportion with how much men get paid compared to women anyway.

So if you started your business BEFORE you married, would the outcome be the same ... your spouse still gets half?

I knew someone who had to pay alimony to her no-account DH. He quit his job, it was supposed to be a temporary thing, but he never tried to find another job. Then he filed for divorce, and demanded alimony. He got it.

Anonymous wrote:He will either get half of your business or you will have to sell your business and split the proceeds.

Not necessarily. The business can be valued and OP can pay his share to him. Either in a lump sum cash arrangement or installments over time. He could also just have equity/be an investor in the business with no voting/business say.

Anonymous wrote:Sure, see Kevin Federline.

That was child support

Anonymous wrote:He will either get half of your business or you will have to sell your business and split the proceeds.

I have a friend whose husband lawyered the hell out of her and she got very little payout from his business.

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t there just be a penalty for infidelity. It’s the main reason for marriage. To have sex and children with one person. Makes no sense.

I think there sort of can be. "the circumstances contributing to the estrangement of the parties" is one of the factors to consider. Judges have a ton of discretion and I can't imagine at least some of them don't take an affair into consideration when determining the amount awarded. It's not going to be the difference between alimony or no alimony, but in some circumstance it will move the needle.

He will either get half of your business or you will have to sell your business and split the proceeds.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to government data, men pay 99 percent of all alimony dollars paid in the US.

I’m willing to bet that data is at least 10-15 years old and includes a lot of marriages that ended 20 years before that.

I think if you looked at alimony awarded in 2022, a much higher percentage would be paid by women.

Two reasons the proportion is remaining lopsided:
1. Men feel ashamed to ask for alimony.
2. Women push back very strongly when a man asks for alimony, even if she makes a lot more than him - in effect women shame men out of asking for it.

Pfft no way. Both parties in divorces tend to become jerks and if a guy can hurt his ex financially with alimony, most wouldn't let their concepts of manhood stop them.

Men still make more than women in large part because they take career hits to have kids. That's the reason why it's lopsided.

OP here: I guess my head has been in the sand while building the business the last 15 years. I never realized that a man would get alimony, especially when they never raided the kids or paid any bills. My bad.

I mean stoning was a little over the top for the sin but paying someone who cheated on you is just wrong.

Why can’t there just be a penalty for infidelity. It’s the main reason for marriage. To have sex and children with one person. Makes no sense.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to government data, men pay 99 percent of all alimony dollars paid in the US.

I’m willing to bet that data is at least 10-15 years old and includes a lot of marriages that ended 20 years before that.

I think if you looked at alimony awarded in 2022, a much higher percentage would be paid by women.

Two reasons the proportion is remaining lopsided:
1. Men feel ashamed to ask for alimony.
2. Women push back very strongly when a man asks for alimony, even if she makes a lot more than him - in effect women shame men out of asking for it.

He will get half of your business if you divorce.