Paula English’s husband was charged with abducting her. She thought he would kill her. When they divorced, she was still ordered to pay him $1,000 a month in alimony – and she’s not alone.
buzzfeednews.com/article/ariane…
buzzfeednews.com/article/ariane…
Divorce law varies between states, but other women have similar stories.
A California woman was ordered to pay alimony to the estranged husband charged with sexually assaulting her. A New York woman had to pay the legal fees of an ex-husband who plead guilty to beating her.
A California woman was ordered to pay alimony to the estranged husband charged with sexually assaulting her. A New York woman had to pay the legal fees of an ex-husband who plead guilty to beating her.
While these woman found the law on their side in criminal court, they found something different in family court.
When they’d said “I do,” they’d agreed to financially support their husbands – even if those husbands raped them, beat them up, or tried to kill them.
When they’d said “I do,” they’d agreed to financially support their husbands – even if those husbands raped them, beat them up, or tried to kill them.
The #MeToo movement has brought forth allegations against colleagues and bosses, but has yet to answer questions of how abuse allegations are handled at home.
When it comes to the price of domestic violence, divorce courts are free to make victims — almost always women — pay.
When it comes to the price of domestic violence, divorce courts are free to make victims — almost always women — pay.
New Jersey Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera proposed a bill to ban courts from awarding alimony to ex-spouses convicted of domestic violence.
It's been stalled for years, with lawyers arguing it could lead to false claims of abuse by spouses trying to avoid paying alimony.
It's been stalled for years, with lawyers arguing it could lead to false claims of abuse by spouses trying to avoid paying alimony.
Only California forbids judges from ordering a victim of spousal sexual assault to pay alimony and attorneys’ fees to their convicted abusers.
California and New Jersey are the only states that ban alimony to an ex-spouse convicted of attempted murder. buzzfeednews.com/article/ariane…
California and New Jersey are the only states that ban alimony to an ex-spouse convicted of attempted murder. buzzfeednews.com/article/ariane…
In the case of one woman who earned more than her abusive husband, the judge argued that “If the genders were switched...and I ordered no spousal support, people would be kicking and screaming.”
“The man threatened to kill her and leave her body in a ditch,” her lawyer replied.
“The man threatened to kill her and leave her body in a ditch,” her lawyer replied.
A leading voice for change in divorce laws has been Barbara Bentley, who sought legislative action in the 1990s after her husband was convicted of her attempted murder.
She was ordered to make monthly alimony payments until his death.
She was ordered to make monthly alimony payments until his death.
Some women say they view payments to their violent ex-husbands as another form of abuse — this one enabled by the courts.
They hope testifying about the most painful moments of their lives will help others: “I don't want this to happen to anybody else.”
buzzfeednews.com/article/ariane…
They hope testifying about the most painful moments of their lives will help others: “I don't want this to happen to anybody else.”
buzzfeednews.com/article/ariane…
This story is part of BuzzFeed News’ #WhatNow series on what’s changed – and what hasn’t – in the year since allegations against Harvey Weinstein brought massive attention to the #MeToo movement.
Read the whole series here: buzzfeednews.com/collection/wha…
Read the whole series here: buzzfeednews.com/collection/wha…
