Divorce proceedings can be very long and drawn out. Depending upon the circumstances, the added length of the proceedings is actually beneficial. Those who would be in need of alimony and child support probably do not want to see the proceedings closed quickly at the expense of a monetary loss. Unfortunately, when divorcing someone who is self-employed or a freelancer and paid based on volume, the spouse could bring his/her income down on purpose. A highly-skilled lawyer may be able to prove to the court the "loss" of income is being done solely to reduce potential financial obligations.

More Than Monthly Receipts

Accurate revenue figures may only tell part of the tale in regards to a spouse's new income situation. If the spouse was earning $5,000 per month in, say, the construction business, it is conceivable that income could drop to $2,500. Why the income has dropped becomes the big question. A lawyer could make the argument that the spouse is "sandbagging" earnings and his/her potential to earn more is only held back by the spouse's desire not to work as opposed to any serious reversals in fortune. Hence, the ability to get more alimony and spousal support may become possible based on the true earnings potential of the spouse.

The Social Media Transcript

Using social media when going through a divorce is best served following an approach of extreme politeness. Even the most conniving of spouses won't make the mistake of appearing obtuse online. What he or she may not realize is any social media posts related to business could be used to disprove claims that income has dropped. Certain indicators could reveal a work stoppage of sorts is occurring. For example, if the social media page is no longer soliciting work or other forms of advertising have been curtailed, this could indicate a deliberate attempt to reduce income as opposed to actually suffering from a loss of incoming business.

Testimony on Habits

Credible testimony detailing a spouse's work habits could impress the court. Revealing very clear descriptions of the common weekly schedule of the spouse may paint a picture of someone who could work more if he/she wished. A spouse who is unable to present a compelling and clear picture of why a work slowdown is due to outside factors would not likely be impressive.

No guarantees exist on how the court will rule, but a skilled attorney (think The Law Offices of Justin Rickman) should be able to present a strong case to the court that could help the cause of receiving a fair amount of alimony and/or child support.

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