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WILLFUL UNEMPLOYMENT DURING A DIVORCE
Equality Festival Groundhog King Lincoln Muffin Pancake Rabbit Roses
CURRIED STEAK WITH SCALLION RICE AND PEAS
It Might Not Have the Effect You Think
The biggest factor determining the amount of money awarded as spousal or child support payments is the amount of money earned by the party obligated to pay. One dirty trick some use to game the system is willful unemployment or underemployment. The logic is that since they won’t earn as much, their support order will be reduced. Although the support order may be reduced, more often, this scheme can backfire through a legal mechanism known as “imputed income.” Consider the case of a man who has held a steady job with an annual income of $100K for the past few years while he was married. During his divorce, he decides to quit his job to travel and reports that he has no current income. The judge may look at this situation and determine that this man has the proven ability to earn $100K per year and decided to quit his job, so the support order will be calculated as if he was actually still earning $100K per year! The main considerations determining whether actual income will be disregarded in favor of imputed income are the ability and opportunity the person has to earn income. A person who can prove their job loss was an involuntary layoff and that they are conducting a substantial effort to secure another job can avoid being ordered to pay a support order based on imputed income. Things get more complicated when the party is not an employee but is self-employed. Consider what happens when a man who works as an independent contractor or runs a small business gets divorced. Since self- employed people typically set their own hours and have a higher degree of control over how much money they make, it is easy for someone in this position to intentionally (or perhaps subconsciously) make changes that reduce the amount of income they are earning. It’s also true that businesses fluctuate and markets change, and the self-employed spouse may experience a reduction in income despite their best efforts. Whether you are due to receive or pay a support order, it’s very important to be represented by excellent legal counsel who can help ensure a fair outcome that does not place an undue burden on you.
Inspired by MarthaStewart.com
INGREDIENTS
• • • • • •
1 lb flank steak, room temperature Kosher salt and ground pepper 3 tbsp massaman curry paste, divided
1 1/4 cups white rice
2 1/2 cups water, divided
4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced, white and light-green parts separated from dark-green tops • 8 oz sugar snap peas, trimmed and halved on the bias
DIRECTIONS
1. Season steak with salt and pepper. Brush with 1 tbsp curry paste, and let stand 10 minutes. 2. In a saucepan, combine rice, 1 3/4 cups water, 1 tbsp oil, and 3/4 tsp salt. Bring to a boil, then stir, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer about 15 minutes before adding white and light- green scallions. Cover to steam. 3. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Swirl in 1 tbsp oil. Add the steak, flipping once; cook this for 7–9 minutes, then transfer to a carving board. 4. Reduce the skillet to medium heat, then add 1 tbsp oil and the remaining 2 tbsp curry paste. Cook this for 1 minute. Add 3/4 cup water and cook until reduced, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a bowl and cover. 5. Wipe skillet clean, then add remaining 1 tbsp oil. While stirring, add snap peas. Season with salt and cook this until crisp-tender, about 2–3 minutes. 6. Fluff rice before stirring in scallion tops. Slice steak against the grain, then serve with rice, peas, and curry sauce.
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