THINQon : Alimony? The Parker-Longoria case, and gender-free laws

Family Room General Alimony? The Parker-Longoria case, and gender-free laws

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George Steel

Alimony? The Parker-Longoria case, and gender-free laws

Latest Post: November 19, 2010 at 2:10 AM

7 followers

Eva Longoria is divorcing Tony Parker supposedly because of his affair with the wife of ex-teammate Brent Barry. They have a prenup, no kids, and yet she is demanding spousal support. Are you kidding me?
This brings up the general case of alimony. I understand she might be upset and wants to get back at him by going after his money, but why is this in any way legal? Why should he support her? I understand if they had kids, or if she was forced to quit her career in order to stay at home and clean the house, but this is clearly not the case. The only reason this might be legal is the historical precedence of the woman staying at home sowing and cooking while the man works and earns money.
I suppose Tony earns more money than her, and though in both cases their big-money career is short lived, he will probably earn more than her in the future, but so what? Why because he married her should he pay her? Should the law really see women as weak and expensive prostitutes?

I can understand her being upset and wanting to get back at him, people act strangely when upset, but shouldn't the law be changed that there needs to be more of a reason why the guy should pay the woman, and with exactly the same rules being able to apply the other way around? Shouldn't our laws soon be gender-free?

(Less to the point, what's the deal with spousal support? She's not exactly poor. Can she claim than a mere couple of millions a year (or more) she is earning is not enough and she needs a few more from him? Given again that she didn't sacrifice her career because of him, but this is hard to verify. What if the wo/man just doesn't feel like working and prefers to being taken care of by their partner?)

I'd also relate this post to Andy's really great post on inheritance where he asks why kids still usually take the father's last name (or the problems of endless hyphenations).

If we are to devise a new law concerning alimony here, what should it be? In what cases should alimony be paid?

Reply to:

denise peck

November 19, 2010 at 2:10 AM

7 followers

George,

I agree with most of what you say. The law can not have emotion. It must be impartial. As far as Eva goes, she has a nice bank account of her own and continues to make a good living. She has sacrificed nothing during her marriage as far as her career goes. I do not believe she is entitled, legally to receive any alimony from her soon to be ex. She can fight, but that does not mean she will get anything.

I do believe though, that women are entitled to alimony if they stopped working to have a family. The woman was doing a very big job by taking care of the family, but this makes her not very marketable in the work world if she should go out and try to obtain a job. If the man has been pursuing his career, and building a network of business associates, while his wife has been at home taking care of their home and family she is entitled to compensation upon divorce. She has lost much of her earning potential.

When my sister's husband left her with their children she was emotionally devasted, but also financially insecure. She had limited earning potential since for 10 years she was home taking care of the home and family. She could not support the home or the children without proper support from her ex.

I have a cousin who could not have children, but she left her job about 12 years ago. Her husband supported this decision since he enjoyed his wife being very focused on him and their home. He makes enough money to more than support them. They did not need her salary. If he decides to leave, shouldn't she be entitled to alimony? No way can she get a job that would enable her to support herself. She is now in her late 50's and lost most of her earning potential in Corporate America.