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“Manimony” is a new term for a trend showing that more men are receiving spousal support, also known as alimony. For example, singer Britney Spears paid the attorneys’ fees for her ex-husband Kevin Federline, plus another million dollars for spousal support, and Jennifer Lopez paid her ex Cris Judd $14 million, after just eight months of marriage. Comedienne Roseanne Barr ended her marriage to Tom Arnold with a $50 million payment to him.
Wives Making Bigger Salaries
It’s not just celebrity couples providing “manimony.” More women are making bigger salaries than their husbands these days, and when the divorce is final, it’s still the major breadwinner who is more often ordered to pay spousal support, even if it’s the wife (and mother). In some cases, the husband wasn’t even working outside the home during the marriage he was taking care of the kids and home, in a complete reversal of traditional roles.
There is still the distinction between “spousal support” and “child support.” It’s not automatic that the higher-income spouse will be ordered to pay spousal support, but if there are children of the marriage, the higher-income (or only-income) spouse will certainly end up paying child support.
To Maintain a Standard of Living
If a husband was making less than his wife for the majority of the time they were married, he may be able to get “manimony” for some period of time after their divorce, to maintain the standard of living he had during the marriage. This spousal support will not be indefinite. Just as was the case for women receiving alimony, the alimony is often intended to simply give the ex-spouse support while he “gets on his feet.”
Talk to a Divorce Lawyer in Your Area about "Manimony"
If you’re divorcing and you have questions about spousal support, contact an experienced divorce attorney near you today. Every divorce is unique, and it takes a seasoned attorney to help you protect your legal and financial rights.