I just started a sucsessful business. My husband whom I have been married to for three years is behind $ 12000. in spousal maitanence that i...

Question

I just started a sucsessful business. My husband whom I have been married to for three years is behind $ 12000. in spousal maitanence that is permanent. He is court ordered to pay $4300. per month for maitenance and is in the procsess of trying to have it reduced because of a decrease in income. He has been told to come back in 6 months. This will put him even more into arears. Can his ex-wife and attorney try to get any of my money that I have worked so hard for in this new business?

Answer

Possibly, but it would depend on the facts. If your husband was ordered to pay $4,300 a month in spousal support he was obviously making a very good living. If it was permanent he can't modify it, but this is fairly rare. Can they come after you? Maybe. If your husband quit his job because you are making a lot of money you may be, indirectly, responsible. Let us say you make $500,000 a year at your new business, you used marital funds to capitalize that business, and your husband is now working for your business (at minimum wage, but he comes home to a million dollar estate), and you pay for everything he (and you) is going to be responsible. I have no idea if this is the situation, but just food for thought. Basically, if your husband chose to take a cut in pay nothing is going to change.