Spousal Support & Alimony Calculations Flashcards
7 cards from real CDA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Spousal Support & Alimony Calculations flashcards as text
A prenuptial agreement waiving all alimony rights is generally:
Answer: Enforceable if signed voluntarily with full financial disclosure and no unconscionability
Alimony waivers in prenups are enforceable in most states when the agreement meets procedural requirements: voluntary execution, disclosure, and fairness.
If a recipient spouse refuses a reasonable job offer that matches their qualifications, a court may:
Answer: Impute the refused income and reduce or deny alimony accordingly
Refusing suitable employment without good cause can result in courts imputing that income and adjusting alimony downward.
The concept of 'alimony in gross' (also called lump-sum alimony) differs from periodic alimony primarily because it:
Answer: Cannot be modified or terminated even upon remarriage
Lump-sum alimony represents a fixed obligation that is not subject to modification or termination due to changed circumstances.
In a state that uses a formula-based alimony guideline, what is the primary benefit for divorcing spouses?
Answer: Provides predictability and reduces litigation over support amounts
Formula-based guidelines make alimony outcomes more predictable, which often reduces the cost and conflict of negotiations.
A paying spouse retires at age 65 and seeks to terminate alimony. Courts will generally:
Answer: Evaluate whether the retirement was voluntary, reasonable, and in good faith
Courts examine whether retirement was a good-faith decision at a reasonable age rather than a strategy to avoid support obligations.
Which of the following is an example of a 'step-down' alimony arrangement?
Answer: Alimony that decreases in scheduled increments over time as the recipient builds self-sufficiency
Step-down alimony gradually reduces payments over time, often tied to milestones like completing education or reaching a target income.
When advising a client on alimony, a CDA should remind them that alimony arrears (unpaid past-due support) are generally:
Answer: Non-dischargeable in bankruptcy and collectible through wage garnishment
Domestic support obligations including alimony arrears survive bankruptcy and can be enforced through wage garnishment, tax refund interception, and other remedies.