Getting Reimbursement For Your Sacrifice To Support Your Successful Ex

So you worked hard to help your soon-to-be ex start a business or go to school and get an advanced degree. Now that they are successful, you have to deal with divorce and starting over. It may seem grossly unfair to be in this situation. Is there any way you can receive recompense for your sacrifices so you can work on improving your own newly separate life?

Aspects of assistance that shouldn't be overlooked.

If you also postponed your education and career building opportunities to help your mate, this is a sacrifice that needs to be accounted for. If you were scrimping by while care-taking for your children, this too is a consideration because in divorce law, marriage is considered a partnership.

Many mates work tirelessly to help their spouse achieve their dreams in activities such as being an unpaid assistant, doing bookkeeping, errand running, entertaining clients, helping a spouse study for exams and more. Some of these things are hard to prove or convert into something tangible but there are a couple of ways you may still benefit.

Paying back money given to start a business.

If you gave your spouse money to start a business and they became successful, you can ask for reimbursement on your investment. Also, If your ex started the business during the marriage, whether you provided seed money or not, you would be entitled to a percentage of it as a marital asset.

Payments calculated from future earnings and degree as a marital asset.

Some states with equitable distribution laws like New York may consider a college degree that was obtained by a spouse during the course of a marriage as a marital asset. To obtain compensation, the earnings that the spouse could be expected to earn over a certain amount of years would be added up and a percentage would be assigned to you.

Repaying the cost of sending a mate to school.

In a community property state like California, you could expect to recoup expenses for helping send a mate to college but you can't expect a percentage of their future earnings.

Asking for rehabilitative spousal support so that you can improve your circumstances.

You may be reluctant to ask for rehabilitative spousal support, but don't be. By getting help in the early years post-divorce, you will be able to get training or re-training, or go back to school to work on your own career. 

Generally speaking, divorce laws are crafted to make sure one ex-spouse is able to go on living the high life while the other mate is left nearly destitute.  How long you can receive support depends on the state you live in. Some states only allow it for a few years, but those years could be put to good use.

Of course, if you have a choice between spousal support and a greater share of a marital asset or a lump sum payment you might be wise to take it. For instance, instead of support, your ex offers to let you have a greater percentage of the house so you can keep it. You could then use the property to start a business or to rent out rooms and provide an income for yourself.

Get in touch with a divorce attorney for more information.