If my mother and stepfather finalized their divorce over a year ago, is it too late to fight for alimony?

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If my mother and stepfather finalized their divorce over a year ago, is it too late to fight for alimony?

They were married almost 20 years. She has custody of 2 of my minor siblings and is currently receiving $600 in child support for each of them. I pay her rent, but she’s still struggling, and the child support ends in 2 years. She hasn’t been able to find a job because of the economy and being out of the workforce the entire duration of the marriage. Also she’s the only caretaker for my grandmother because my grandmother doesn’t speak English and the rest of us can’t speak Korean, further preventing her from seeking full-time employment.

Asked on March 13, 2012 under Family Law, California

Answers:

Hong Shen / Roberts Law Group

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

Check the divorce decree. If the court retained the jurisdiction for alimony, then your mother may be able to go back there and request it. Typically, once a divorce decree is issued, she either gets alimony or waived the right to it. It is not usual to ask for alimony after divorce is final.


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