The demise of the Defense of Marriage Act has recently been a success for many gay couples around the country. Unfortunately, what comes of gay marriage is also gay divorce sometimes, where legal issues such as property division, spousal support and custody are included.
The nasty divorce of Jane Lynch and her wife, Lara Embry, spiked the interest of many readers in Worcester, Massachusetts. Embry, a graduate of Smith College in Massachusetts, married Lynch in 2010. However, after being married for nearly three years, the Glee actress filed for divorce last July. According to the report, the couple did not sign any prenuptial agreement but Lynch asserted that she is not expecting any conflicts concerning the finances.
Additionally, it was reported that Embry is asking for spousal support from the actress. The court documents showed that Embry is demanding nearly $93,809 for alimony. She asserted that the actress could afford the spousal support because she makes around $230,000 per month, taking into consideration Lynch’s acting success, investments and assets. In addition to that, Embry requested Lynch to give the deed of their expensive residential home to her as well.
It may be common for many celebrity spouses to ask for alimony in the event of divorce. Because the entertainment industry provides high salaries, a lower income-earning spouse may want to maintain the lifestyle and financial situation to which he or she has become accustomed through spousal support. The alimony may limit the unfair economic impact of divorce to a lower-income spouse. This is no different than it is with non-celebrities filing for divorce and asking for alimony in Massachusetts or anywhere else in the U.S.
However, requesting alimony in a divorce has to adhere to certain guidelines that may determine the reasonable amount of spousal support. In Massachusetts, the alimony amount and its duration may depend on the length of marriage. In instances where the payer spouse cannot afford the amount, alimony modifications may be possible.
Source: Huffington Post “Jane Lynch: I Kind of Like Being Single After Divorce From Lara Embry” Sept. 16, 2013
