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shawna30 · Feb 21, 2008, 12:44 PM

I'm looking to get a divorce ,he's the soul provider we been married 3 years and together 9 years I'm in ca which is a common law state ,we have no kids together ,but he has 3 step children ,I don't have a job or I don't drive I haven't worked in over 3 years is there any way I can collect alimony?

ScottGem · Feb 21, 2008, 12:46 PM

I would suggest consulting an attorney, but the possibility exists that you can get alimony. I'm assuming that he is no longer your soul provider, but is your sole provider. ;)

whyohwhy · Feb 22, 2008, 09:32 AM

I'm not an attorney... but, my understanding is that if you have been married for 10 years or more.. then you would get alimony for every year that you were married. If less than 10 years, then 1/2 the time that you were married. Therefore, for 3 years of marriage... you would get 1 1/2 years of alimony.

ScottGem · Feb 22, 2008, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by whyohwhy

but, my understanding is that if you have been married for 10 years or more..then you would get alimony for every year that you were married.

Not disputing that, but you need to locate it. Divorce laws do vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. So while that may be a correct statement for your area, it may not hold for other areas.

whyohwhy · Feb 22, 2008, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by ScottGem

Not disputing that, but you need to locate it. Divorce laws do vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. So while that may be a correct statement for your area, it may not hold for other areas.

That's true. I live in CA...

JBeaucaire · Feb 22, 2008, 07:46 PM

I know you're question is about alimony, but I'd caution you about relying on this too heavily. Either way, if you have reached the point of divorce, you should be working on a fast track to independence.

Get enrolled TODAY in some trade school that interests you. There are programs that give you specific marketable skills in a very short time of directed study - pharmacist assistant, dental assistant, stenographer, court recorder, medical transcriptionist, law transcriptionist, and MORE.

Start this process immediately. Work for self-reliance immediately. If you get alimony, that'll be icing on the cake, great money to start for a retirement account or something.

Fr_Chuck · Feb 22, 2008, 07:52 PM

Yes and also remember that it may take months or years for your divorce case to get final with the judge. So you will need to provide for yourself till that time.