June 1, 2015

California Initiative Started to Eliminate Spousal Maintenance in that State

A California software consultant has taken an unusual step to fight his alimony (spousal maintenance) payments. He has written an initiative to end alimony altogether in the State of California, and has received permission from the Secretary of State to start gathering signatures per California law. If he can get 365,880 registered voters to sign by Nov. 2, the initiative will be put up on the ballot in 2016.

The author of the initiative believes that alimony is an outdated concept now that most women are working outside of the home and have marketable skills. He also believes that some people use alimony as a “retaliatory tactic” and that alimony debates draws out divorce proceedings.

If the initiative passes, existing awards of less than ten years would be eliminated unless the court grants an extension of one year. Awards greater than ten years would be reduced to zero at a rate of 20% a year over a five year period.

If this initiative does get support and it passes, it will be a very interesting experiment. Alimony has been around for centuries, but gender roles and income levels have certainly changed. We will keep an eye on this issue and see if it makes the 2016 ballot.

If you have questions about alimony, or spousal maintenance as it is called in Washington, or other family law questions in the state of Washington, call Elise Buie Family Law. We can help.

STAY UP TO DATE

Subscribe to our newsletters

Subscribe to one or more of our newsletters, delivering meaningful insight on topics that matter to you and your family.

Latest Blog Posts

How to Handle Remains in Washington State – Part I

Death is a part of life. Like taxes, there's no avoiding it. Also, like taxes, you may not like thinking or talking about the subject. However, if you think about death and how to handle your remains from a planning…

Thinking About Adoption in Washington State? What You Need to Know

Every child deserves love, stability, and consistency. Is there a child in your life that you have considered adopting, perhaps because they are the child of your spouse or a child you are fostering? Perhaps there is an adult in…

What You Should and Shouldn’t Store in a Safe Deposit Box

The thought of losing your home or its contents in a disaster is a scary thought. Loss of life, destruction of irreplaceable items such as home movies, photos, and heirlooms make it unconscionable. But as we know in life, sometimes…

Weaponized Incompetence: No, It Isn’t Easier to Just Do It Yourself

Spoiler alert: If you’re doing everything around the house (or at work) because you’re living (working) with a bunch of incompetent fools, or so they’ve led you to believe they are, you’re being manipulated. So pervasive is this phenomenon, there’s…

Spark Joy for Your Loved Ones and Yourself With Swedish Death Cleaning

If you've created an estate plan, you've already spent a good deal of time thinking about what will happen to you if you become sick, incapacitated, or die, including where you will go (literally) when you die. After all, you don't want your…

7 Questions Asked and Answered About Changing Your Name in Washington State

If you're 18 or older and live in Washington State, you can legally change your name to anything you want as long as you're not doing so to commit fraud. For example, if your goal is to change your name to evade…

Why Your Special Needs Child Needs to Be a Part of Your Estate Plan

Your estate plan should ensure your special needs child experiences the best quality of life they can, that the assets upon which they will rely will last as long as possible during their lifetime, and that their eligibility for public services will be maximized. Learn more.