Back in September I blogged about how lifetime alimony awards in Connecticut were substantially decreasing. Lifetime alimony in Connecticut – is it over? – Bridgeport, CT Metro/Family and Personal Injury Law Blog | Brian D. Kaschel La
Now comes word that legislation will introduced in Connecticut to eliminate lifetime alimony.
If passed, the new law would create different types of alimony depending on the length of the marriage and the financial positions of each spouse. Of course, these are the primary factors a judge currently weighs when making alimony orders. However, unlike now, there will be little room for a judge to decide or weigh anything. Alimony will simply be determined based on a schedule similar to how child support is calculated. Enter some numbers and the duration of the marriage into a worksheet and voila, we have an alimony order.
I wonder if the proposed bill will have “deviation criteria” akin to child support where the calculation derives a presumed number but there could be a deviation. But maybe that would create excessive litigation?
Opponents of the bill argue that it limits the discretion of a judge to tailor alimony awards to the particular circumstances of a case. Others argue that abused spouses may risk staying in a violent marriage longer to “earn” more alimony.