Divorced and Struggling: Enforcing Alimony Against a Wealthy Ex-Spouse
A woman receiving $1,460 monthly in Social Security faces an ex-husband worth millions who refuses to pay court-ordered alimony. Here's what the law allows.
Few financial injustices feel as acute as watching a court-ordered support obligation go unpaid while the person who owes it sits on a multimillion-dollar estate. That is precisely the situation one woman described in a MarketWatch advice column: she collects $1,460 per month in Social Security benefits and has little else, while her ex-husband, 74, has documented assets in the millions and is simply refusing to honor his alimony obligation.
The scenario raises a practical legal question that more divorced Americans face than is commonly acknowledged. Alimony — sometimes called spousal support or maintenance depending on the state — is a court order, not a suggestion. When a paying spouse refuses to comply, the recipient generally has enforceable remedies through the family court system, including filing a motion for contempt of court. A judge who finds willful non-compliance can impose fines, order wage garnishment, place liens on property, or in some jurisdictions even order jail time until the arrears are satisfied.
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The wealth of the non-paying spouse is actually a double-edged factor here. On one hand, a person with millions in documented assets cannot credibly claim inability to pay, which strengthens a contempt filing considerably. On the other hand, wealthy individuals often have sophisticated legal representation and assets structured in ways — through trusts, LLCs, or other vehicles — that can complicate collection. That asymmetry of legal firepower is why family law attorneys frequently advise recipients in this position to secure their own experienced counsel rather than attempt enforcement pro se.
For recipients relying heavily on Social Security, the financial strain of mounting a legal fight can feel paralyzing, creating a cruel catch-22. Some states offer legal aid services for low-income individuals in family court matters, and some family law attorneys take enforcement cases on contingency or deferred-fee arrangements given the strength of a documented court order. The key first step is returning to the issuing court with clear documentation of the missed payments and the ex-spouse's financial disclosures.
Ultimately, this case is a reminder that a divorce decree is only as good as its enforcement mechanism — and that enforcement almost always requires proactive legal action by the person owed support. Continue reading at MarketWatch.com
