Sudden Income Deficit Disorder (SIDDs)
What happens when the primary breadwinner claims sudden poverty on the eve of a divorce in an effort to avoid paying child support and maintenance (formerly known as “alimony”)? A good lawyer can handle this situation.
Enjoying the Suburba
n Life
I was in mediation this week representing a divorcing Wife and Mother. She has been a stay-at-home Mother for the whole 15 years of the marriage. The family had lived in Suburban Style with the Husband as the primary breadwinner. He worked in mortgages, real estate sales, and as a general contractor. The family enjoyed a million dollar home, luxury SUVs, and the other accoutrement of success. Then the housing market tanked and Dad’s businesses declared bankruptcy.
Husband Plans for Beating the System: Sudden Poverty
Dad, who mutual friends say was planning the divorce for several years, claimed to have suddenly gone from making six figures to making no money (he claimed $2,000 in income for all of 2012). He was convinced that he was not going to have to pay a penny in maintenance (f/k/a alimony) or child support. He openly bragged to mutual friends that he was going to beat “the system” and avoid paying his wife anything. He fired his first attorney and hired a top-dollar attorney who works on the 43rd floor of a downtown office building.
Husband Crumbles
I knew he was hiding money, working for cash and putting money in other peoples’ names. By the time I was done demonstrating that I would do to him at trial, Dad agreed to pay $500/month in maintenance (or three times his alleged annual income per year!) on top of child support (over $500/month), rather than face me at trial.
Don’t be bullied by a braggart. I will help you get what you have coming to you. Call me at 612-310-7398 to discuss your divorce.
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