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Name: JMV   Title: What states/Countries do not recognise Alimony and will not

What States in the USA and what countries do not recognise alimony and will not extradite you back to the state you got your divorce in? Also Is Costa Rica a country that will extradite you for non payment of Alimony? Also heard that they (Courts) do not come after you for non payment of alimony ..just non payment of Child support ..which for me the children are emancipated now! My divorce was in the state of Massachusetts!

HELP!! ASAP!

Name: Aaron Dishon New Member

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Name: Prepmand New Member

WARNING -- This is not from an attorney. Just a well-read leagl wonk working on his own divorce planning for years.

All states and territories in the US have something called *comity*, loosely meaning that each state respects each other's states laws and court judgements. So, getting divorced anywhere in the US will not allow one to escape a court-ordered spousal support judgement in any other state. Regardless of the morality of obligating one spouse to pay another spouse an arbitrary amount of money for an often open ended term, under threat of contempt and imprisonment, is of no matter. I think the system is horribly unjust, and we do, in essence have debtor prisons in America. In fact, judges have almost unbridled power to imprison citizens without due process, by simply citing contempt as the crime.

This system allows a perpetual cycle of judicial reviews, court modified orders, and attorney's to be involved for as "long as the two shall live" in some circumstances.

the only solution to this morass is to literally leave the country should an ex-spouse, court, or attorney decide to pursue you for money. The reason you can't reliably move to another state, besides the legal principal of comity, is that the states increasingly cooperate with each other, as well as the Federal Government (e.g. IRS) to track you, your income and assets so as to be able to seize them. And, with the advent of networked computer databases, the job is becoming increasingly simple. Essentially, there are no more firewalls across state lines to protect yourself and your money from those who wish to take it by due-process (translated: by force).

Many books have been written about asset protection and it's role in divorce actions. Even experts disagree on what can be done to shield income and assets from US court orders. The problem is that even if you utilize legal offshore asset protection to shield yourself from egregious support judgements, unless you've decided to move your corpus -- your body -- offshore as well, you could always be held in contempt of court and have a bench warrant issues for your arrest. If and when another state would find out or even act on that warrant is an a big question. A simple traffic stop and running of your driver's license may show a warrant for your arrest from another state. Again, a contempt warrant may or may not show up depending on the states involved. And again, the state where you're accosted may not arrest you and extradite you back for a contempt order. You'd really have to check with attorneys familiar with the procedure in both states involved to have a clear idea what's involved.

Or course, if you did leave the country in the event of a contempt charge, you may have to decide if the idea of never returning to the US is even a viable option. Your life, family, stuff, and employment are usually based here. Very few people can just pick up and move to a foreign country with no intention of returning.

Then again, there are other countries friendly to the US that may be more likely to allow a US judgement to be domesticated, and therefore enforceable in that country. I would stay clear of Canada, for instance, and maybe even Mexico if you plan on residing and working in a more populated metro area. You just never know how far a ex-spouse, her attorney and the courts will go to show you who's boss.

Other countries, especially those with weaker diplomatic relationships with the US are probably safe. But, are those places even worth living. Europe is a toss up, depending on the country. The Caribbean is a bit hit or miss -- I'd avoid Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, BVI, and maybe even the British Commonwealth countries, where they're more likely to have treaties in place with the US to make pursuing you easier.

Name: JUSTIN New Member

have you ever seen or recieved a correct answer about costa rica ?

are you safe there from extradition ? for alimony ?? chils supoort is something else

Name: winejug New Member

The question in Costa Rica is we were married only 4 years and I surley don't believe that the right for her to draw money from my pension where she had no envolvement with when I worked hard for 35 years to receive. Maybe a short time to get her feet back on the ground. She has more education than me and speaks very good english and get a job anywhere in this country.

Name: winejug New Member

I have the same problem and can't get a direct answer from my attorney!!! He is Costarican and maybe doesn't know the answer.if you find out let me know. wavetherapymassage@gmail.com Also how can the court serve papers on my pension money made in the USA. I don't work here in CR. If you don't pay the alimony can CR block your excit from CR. No kids envolved. Best Wishes,Wayne

Name: SCShafted New Member

As another forced to pay alimony to an ex who for two years lived with a man who was also collecting alimony from his ex wife, I feel raped! This is just too antiquated and wrong.

Name: div2wice New Member

My husband works with Document do it yourself service (they deal with divorces in all 50 states) and he says he does not know of any states that do not recognize alimony from other states. If it is court ordered, and you have a copy of those papers, all states should recognize it, from what we understand.
As far as Costa Rica, that is something you'll have to contact the country about specifically.
No, courts will come after you for non payment of alimony again, as long as you have papers stating that he owes you alimony. You need to contact your local court and report him for non payment of court ordered alimony.
Pamela

Name: barelymakinit New Member

I have the same questions as JMV

Name: otis New Member

I'm all in favor of child support, but I'll commit suicide before I pay alimony. Let the parasite get a job and support herself.

Name: marshall New Member

JMV, we are leaving for CR in a few weeks, bugginh out. we'll let you know

Name: marshall New Member

My spouse is ordered to pay 12k...per month....for life.....dosent get much worse than that. The marriage only lasted 12 years, she has a masters degree, and wont work....if the alimony and child support are unallocated, then how do you know what is child support and what is alimony?

Name: DandDJustDoingIt

I would like to respond to madalex comment that trying to avoid paying alimony is despicable....although I respect everyone's opinion....what I find despicable is forcing one citizen to labor to pay another citizen against their will. Unless a crime has been committed and monetary restitutuion is necessary, forced servtitutde is despicable.

This is my definition of slavery and forced alimony.

Deb

Name: DandDJustDoingIt

Hello, I feel your pain, my husband and myself pay an exhorbitant amount of alimony to his former spouse on a law that was established in 1857. As a second wife, my income is counted towards funds available to pay for her leisure lifestyle...but whining doesn't help me. Join mass alimony reform.. www.massalimonyreform.org

We have made tremendous progress in updating the laws currently having a bill prohibiting lifetime alimony and exhorbitant alimony "just because" working through the state process.

Join us now, you can help us help you.

Deb

Name: livejim56

I have asked everyone I know and I have heard fzlorida and Alabama

Name: New Life

JMV ...... I have to agree with madalex. Despicable.

Name: MAK1

What's despicable is the refusal of Massachusetts judges to place time limits on alimony and to review alimony awards periodically. We're not talking about child support here. No one should be forced to pay alimony indefinitely.

Good luck, JMV . I hope you find what you are looking for.

Name: madalex Member

I pay alimony and I don't really like doing it, but moving to another state to get out of your legal obligation to pay alimony is despicable.