How bragging on social media could affect your alimony obligation

It’s uncommon for Marylanders to care about legal cases in other states. It’s even rarer, though, for them to care about cases in other countries. That’s because most people know that the outcomes of these cases are affected by laws that do not pertain to residents in Maryland. Nonetheless, we’d like to call our Gaithersburg readers’ attention to a story from India. That’s because the legal issue at stake is one that could raise questions in our country as easily as it did overseas.

The issue at hand concerns an alimony obligation. According to reports, a man was ordered to pay more alimony after making seemingly boastful posts on social media about his wealth despite his petition to the court stating otherwise. After presenting evidence to the court, the order for alimony was affirmed and the ex-husband was told to continue supporting his wife and child.

It’s worth pointing out that while the court in this case is bound by different laws than here in Maryland, courts in our state must also take a number of factors into consideration when making alimony determinations, including the monetary wealth of each spouse. This can include income and assets that do not necessarily produce income, such as high-asset items.

Moreover, if an individual in Maryland suspected that their ex-spouse’s circumstances had changed significantly, then a petition for modification could be sought with the help of a lawyer well-versed in family law. It’s worth pointing out that the courts in Maryland would need to scrutinize the evidence submitted on behalf of the petitioner as well as any evidence that refutes their claims. A judge would then use their discretion on whether modification of an existing order is necessary.

Sources: Tech Worm, “This guy loses double alimony after flaunting his wealth on Facebook,” Vijay Prabhu, Jan. 17, 2016

The People’s Law Library of Maryland, “Alimony in Maryland,” Accessed Jan. 19, 2016