When you file for divorce in a Colorado court, you can expect to have to resolve numerous issues. Depending on your state in life, whether you have children and how old they are, you may have to negotiate terms for a co-parenting agreement in addition to discussing financial topics such as child support or alimony. If you and your ex see eye-to-eye on such issues, it shouldn’t be too difficult to come up with a plan.
It’s not uncommon, however, for disagreements to arise, especially concerning financial matters. Actor John Schneider knows what that’s like as he’s been entangled in a legal dispute with his wife since she filed for divorce in 2014. You may want to follow the case if you expect to face alimony obstacles in your situation.
The initial court order
When Schneider’s wife filed for divorce, the judge overseeing the case ordered the Hollywood star to pay $18,000 per month in alimony. If the judge in charge of your divorce orders alimony, both you and your ex must strictly adhere to the terms of the court order. If you’re receiving payments, you can expect to receive them on time, according the agreed-upon plan.
If you’re making payments, you must continue to do so even if you run into financial problems on your end. You can petition the court for modification of its order, but unless the court grants it, your initial court order still stands and the judge can hold you in contempt if you don’t make good on it.
That’s what happened to Schneider
Last year, Schneider did jail time because he owed $150,000 relating to his court-ordered alimony agreement. In fact, the court has not yet finalized the 2014 divorce petition in his case, which has apparently caused other problems in his private life.
Schneider has been dating a woman for several years and wants to marry her. However, he cannot legally do so until his divorce is final. He recently invited friends to his barn to join him in a private ceremony where he and his girlfriend exchanged vows and announced that they now consider themselves spiritually married. Schneider has three adult children who have reportedly stopped talking to him because of the situation.
Learn from this to avoid similar problems
Schneider had claimed he was having serious financial problems when he failed to make timely alimony payments. If a Colorado judge orders you to pay alimony and something happens that impedes your ability to do so, it’s critical that you follow the proper legal process to request a change. It’s also important to understand that you can wind up in jail if you simply stop making payments without the court’s approval.
If you wish to legally marry another person, you’ll want to make sure all the loose ends of your previous relationship are tied first. Skipping this step may spark obstacles that impede your ability to move on in life. It’s a good idea to know where to seek support if you feel ill-equipped to resolve a particular issue on your own.