Long term marriage for spousal support?

[Chrysalis68]

Is there a difference if you have been married 19 years compared to 20 years for spousal support?
A friend of mine thought that it made a big difference in the length of time that you will receive spousal support as soon as you hit the 20 years. Is it worth me staying in a bad marriage for that extra year? I am not working at the present time and have worked only part time off and on throughout the marriage.

[Once.is.enough]

Yes and you should let your husband know about it too. It will definitely improve your position when it comes time for court.

[standing on the sidelines]

Is there a difference if you have been married 19 years compared to 20 years for spousal support?
A friend of mine thought that it made a big difference in the length of time that you will receive spousal support as soon as you hit the 20 years. Is it worth me staying in a bad marriage for that extra year? I am not working at the present time and have worked only part time off and on throughout the marriage.

if the marriage is bad then why stay?? Does your friend have proof positive that you would get more money? Isnt your happiness worth more then money?

Don't do it just to maybe get more money out of the ex, that is deceitful.

[Janibel]

While we're on the subject, does 29 years as opposed to 30 make any difference or is it maxed out after 25? Our lawyers seem to think it's an important detail.

When it's over, it's over and I would not want to waste any more precious time kicking a dead horse - life is too short.

[arabian]

Makes little difference IMO - always remember that the spousal support guidelines are indeed just guidelines. I think the only time a year would make a big difference would be for very short-term marriages.

[Once.is.enough]

Depends how old you are really. Hopefully your young enough to snare another man to support you then it won't matter. If your past your prime then it will be important for you to maximize your settlement.
There are a few on here who are to old to get another man or support themselves. I would think they will be able to guide you on getting the maximum you can under the law.

[Janibel]

Depends how old you are really. Hopefully your young enough to snare another man to support you then it won't matter. If your past your prime then it will be important for you to maximize your settlement.
There are a few on here who are to old to get another man or support themselves. I would think they will be able to guide you on getting the maximum you can under the law.

There are also a few on here who you would not want to have supporting you regardless of how much money they could earn ..................

[arabian]

Depends how old you are really. Hopefully your young enough to snare another man to support you then it won't matter. If your past your prime then it will be important for you to maximize your settlement.
There are a few on here who are to old to get another man or support themselves. I would think they will be able to guide you on getting the maximum you can under the law.

I think you are referring to the "rule of 65" where if your age + length of marriage is equal to or greater than 65 the law deems that the SS entitlement (if proven) would be indefinite.

I'd be interested to know what age is "too old to get another man..." (I believe that many people in retirement homes have pretty active sex lives.) Yes many of us have to adapt our lifestyles after a long-term marriage. Shocking as it may seem, some of us older divorcees are self-supporting.

[Beachnana]

Well unless you have not been able to work full-time because you were raising your children then you might get spousal support.

So 1,19 or 100 yrs will not necessary mean you will supported in any sort of luxury on some poor guys sweat.

So hopefully you have given up a good career and raised 3 children and had dinner on the table each night, so he can pursue the career and earn the big bucks. Oh wait thats me and I am still married. You well who knows.

But you certainly have a great attitude towards what is right and fair. Sorry, but your question is beneath most modern day women.
Rant is over. Good luck

[Once.is.enough]

I think you are referring to the "rule of 65" where if your age + length of marriage is equal to or greater than 65 the law deems that the SS entitlement (if proven) would be indefinite.

I'd be interested to know what age is "too old to get another man..." (I believe that many people in retirement homes have pretty active sex lives.) Yes many of us have to adapt our lifestyles after a long-term marriage. Shocking as it may seem, some of us older divorcees are self-supporting.

How old are you?

[arabian]

57.75 although I feel at times much much younger but look in the mirror and am reminded that I'm just south of 60!

[Rioe]

Is there a difference if you have been married 19 years compared to 20 years for spousal support?
A friend of mine thought that it made a big difference in the length of time that you will receive spousal support as soon as you hit the 20 years. Is it worth me staying in a bad marriage for that extra year? I am not working at the present time and have worked only part time off and on throughout the marriage.

No, nothing magic happens at 20 years.

In a short-term marriage, spousal support, if entitled, is usually for a duration of half the length of the marriage.

In a long-term marriage, spousal support, if entitled, is usually for a duration equal to the length of the marriage.

A lot of money is paid to lawyers to argue which method should be used for a medium-length marriage. I would think that a 19 year marriage would be considered long, though, just as 20 years would be.

There does exist a "rule of 65" which loosely says that if you are entitled to spousal support, and your age + the length of the marriage is 65 or more, then there is a valid argument that the duration of spousal support be indefinite.

So, the main thing to ask yourself is: Are you entitled to spousal support in the first place? You have to have that solidly answered before worrying about duration.

[mememe]

There is a spousal support calculator and you can punch in the numbers and see if it makes any difference.

MySupportCalculator.ca

The spousal support is a "guideline". I was married 20 years and fit into the "Rule of 65". My lawyer at first kept showing me the calculation and then as time went on felt it didn't apply for me. In the end we negotiated a lump sum so the spousal wasn't applied separately.

[Links17]

The definitive answer is No - if your heart is set on divorce then get all the documentation you need and file it ambush style or let you STBX of your intent.

I think its really really cool how before you are even divorced you are plotting how to extend spousal support as much as possible - good for you, my hero!

[Chrysalis68]

I actually just post questions for other people. Friends that don't have the internet etc. So don't be so quick to judge and through stones at me. I'm not even married and never have been. After trying to find information on stuff etc. from this website I am glad that I never took the plunge.