Understanding Spousal Support Avoid Jeopardizing Your Financial Security Oftentimes in a marriage, one spouse is the “bread winner” and earns significantly more income than his or her spouse. In order to provide an economically disadvantaged spouse financial support pending and after a divorce action, the Court may order an economically advantaged spouse to pay alimony, a support and maintenance payment, to an economically disadvantaged spouse. Whether or not an award of alimony is appropriate in a particular divorce action depends on a number of factors, including but not limited to: the existence of disparity of monthly income or earning capacity between the parties, the need for alimony on the part of the economically disadvantaged spouse, the ability of the economically advantaged spouse to pay alimony, the length of the marriage and fault of the parties. Although people typically associate an award of alimony at the time a divorce is finalized, a Court can also order one spouse to pay temporary alimony to the other spouse while the divorce is pending. Any type of alimony ordered by a court is enforceable by the Court, so, if your spouse refuses to pay court-ordered alimony to you, you may take action to compel payment of the obligation. The recipient spouse can initiate legal action to compel payment of alimony by filing a Petition for Contempt of Court. In order to prevail in a Petition for Contempt against a non- paying spouse, the recipient spouse must prove: (1) the existence of a Court order directing payment of alimony and; (2) the obligor spouse’s failure to pay the alimony obligation is willful, which typically means that the obligor spouse possesses the means to pay the support obligation but simply refuses to do so in direct violation of the Court’s order. In the event you are successful in holding your spouse or ex-spouse in Contempt of Court for failure to pay alimony or temporary alimony, the Court may take several different actions against the non-paying spouse. The Court may simply re-order the obligor spouse to pay the alimony obligation within a certain number of days and assess attorney’s fees against the non-paying spouse. Or, in more severe cases, the Court may order that the non-paying spouse be incarcerated until he or she makes the alimony payments. If you are divorcing and alimony is an issue in your case, you need experienced and personalized representation to ensure your interests are protected and properly presented to the Court. Contact Douglass & Runger, PLLC, Attorneys at Law, at (901) 388-5805 to discuss your legal needs today.
Pumpkin Pie Parfaits
Inspired by Kenarry.com
These parfaits are an easy fall dessert everyone can make!
INGREDIENTS • 3.4 oz instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves
• 2 cups cold milk
• 1 cup vanilla sandwich cookies
• 15-oz can pumpkin purée
• 8 oz whipped topping
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
DIRECTIONS 1. In a large bowl, whisk together pudding mix and milk. Let sit for 5 minutes, then stir in pumpkin purée, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves. 2. In a blender or food processor, crush vanilla sandwich cookies into crumbs. 3. In small jars or glasses, place cookie crumbs on bottom, then pumpkin mixture, then whipped topping. Repeat these layers twice and end with cookie crumbs.
4. Chill until ready to serve!
INSPIRATION
“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” —Mahatatma Gandhi
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