Location: PA
My wife and I are getting a divorce. We have been married for almost 3 years and have been together for 5. We do not have any kids together but she did have two kids from previous relationships, both of them are now middle school age. I am not going to lie and say I am not bitter or upset because I am. I am also not without fault in all of this. We started to discuss living options for me. I need to also add that when we first moved in together we got a dog that I took on the responsibility of. I found the breeder, made and took the dog to all the vet and grooming appointments, took her to puppy training and house trained her. My wife even told me a few months ago that she has just now in the past year started to warm up to the dog and feel like its “her dog”. Now I expected to be the one to move out but I was not expecting was her saying she wants $850 a month to “keep things going here” then added she is keeping the dog and wants $1000 instead. I was floored by that and just taken aback by it. She is sick, the kind that will just get worse as her life goes on. It effects her work but she is still working full-time. We both are making similar money. My question is there any legal ground for her to ask for money? What about the dog? We have an apartment lease in both our names that does not expire until April of next year.
Comments
She should get…. Next to nothing as long as you didn’t adopt the kids.
Where you live might be a factor in how the courts see you, considering you’ve been a parental figure for several years living with them. If she’s working I don’t see how it would be as high as 1K though.
If you’re getting divorced get a divorce attorney and don’t discuss anything with your ex, everything through the attorney.
Most likely you both will just walk away from each other unless there’s something glaring that wasn’t stated.
Alimony for a 3 year marriage is unlikely especially if she is working and no kids. If you do it probably would be minimal, but the longer you wait to divorce the more it becomes a possibility
If the dog is registered under your name, take your dog and get a lawyer.
Does she work?
Dogs are a civil matter. Whomever has possession would have to be sued
Your the one moving out she should be paying you for it
You were married for only three years, and you both earn about the same amount of money. So alimony should be zero.
There should be no child support, since there are no children from your marriage.
Any marital assets accrued during the marriage (such as buying a house or car together) are typically divided 50-50.
Since you are the one who was the primary caregiver for the dog, you should ask to keep the dog if that’s what you want to do. In some states, the best interest of the dog is considered by the judge.
I’m sorry you’re having this issue.
Sorry that a divorce is happening. Step 1, call a lawyer. It’s the best way to take care of you and your financial situation. Every state will have different laws that may apply to her alimony request.
I divorced my husband after 40 years and that’s how much I give him. She doesn’t deserve anything after 3 years.
She can ASK for whatever she wants. And in court your attorneys can argue about how much she should get. You can google for alimony calculators for PA. But with similar income and only a 3 year marriage, she’s unlikely to get much support, if any. The dog is like any other marital possession and custody can be decided in divorce court as well. If she’s making these fairly unreasonable demands you need a divorce lawyer ASAP.
Time to consult a divorce attorney.
Get a woman for a divorce attorney. Sounds silly but men make out better when represented by a woman
Get all the receipts for the dog. That you paid for everything. Stop talking to her too dude. She’s probably recording everything. Only talk through a lawyer.
I am not a lawyer but get the dog out of there asap. legally speaking it’s closer to an object than a person, so if you bought it it’s yours but she will use it as emotional blackmail so long as it lives with her
Two kids from previous relationships! Get a good lawyer and then promise yourself to stop marrying single moms
Get a lawyer, and move your stuff out, now! Too many of my friends lost their belongings to ex’s. In Michigan, alimony starts in 5 years of marriage. Take the dog, too.
Keep what going?
She thinks she deserves $ for what?
I’d demand 2k a month to “ keep it going “ from her
Isn’t Pennsylvania a no alimony state? It was when I got divorced 15 years ago.
Get. A. Lawyer.
She can ask for $10k, or 100k a month if she wants to. It doesn’t mean that she’s going to get it
Do you know why?
Because you’re Going. To. Get. A. Lawyer.
Get a divorce attorney. Don’t entertain engage in any conversation about the divorce, sign anything, leave the house, or give her money. Collect all the vet bills, evidence you took it the vet, and get the dog chipped. This will make your chances of getting the dog significantly higher.
Divorcing while sick, that sounds like it might take a toll :/
The only thing you’re legally on the line for is the lease until it’s up. The dog is a civil matter that y’all will have to work out.
For $12,000 / year, this is worth discussing with an attorney.
With no kids and similar incomes it all depends on the state, and in no-fault states unless your attorney sucks you likely won’t be paying anything.
Tell her to get a JOB!
She’ll have her hands full, take the dog.
Get it done! B4 she quits work for reasons & you are in trouble.
Just get a lawyer? Why do people think avoiding this makes it easier. If the lawyers don’t settle it a judge will. Plain and simple.