First, the concept of alimony, also known as spousal support, is outdated.  Alimony laws when first enacted were created at a time when most women didn’t work.  In 2010 women comprised 47 percent of the total U.S. labor force according to the US Department of Labor.  Additionally, California is lagging many other states in the nation where alimony reform has already been adopted. 

Second, alimony is used in many cases as a retaliatory tactic.  Having spent countless hours in divorce court I would often listen to other cases that preceded mine and hear a person who is clearly self-supporting demanding alimony. 

Lastly, as an unintended consequence, it harms children both financially and emotionally.  In many cases such as mine, the pain associated with a long drawn out divorce trickles down to the children and money that could have been directed to them for support and education is being wasted on lawyers.

Please go to www.calalimonyreform.org as only physical signatures are accepted for California ballot initiatives.