A question about alimony...

[CTyankee]

A very good friend of ours wants to stop his alimony payments to an ex wife who is now institutionalized due to her severe depressive state. She is essentially a ward of the state and he is disabled and will need the money for his own care. I know this is a matter of state law and he will be consulting with an attorney about a legal strategy.

Anyone here know if he even has a shot at this? We're concerned about his precarious position. His two daughters from this marriage are estranged from her also, since she blames them for her depression.

[Fla Dem]

1. Something similar happened to a friend of mine.

Though in her case, her husband suffered a stroke and became too disabled to be cared for at home. Because of his military service, he was admitted to a VA institution. They claimed all his pension proceeds, both from the military and private employment as well as Social Security. These are ongoing payments which would have gone to her if he had passed away, but now go to the institution to cover a small percentage of the cost of his care. I don't know what happens if he passes away, if the payments will revert back to her.

If these are legally decreed payments the ex wife is entitled to, they may now have to go to the facility where she is institutionalized.

Not a lawyer, just relating what happened to my friend.

[CTyankee]

2. I put in a call to my son who is a lawyer. He's not a divorce attorney (he's a prosecuter) but he

might be able to shed some light on the question. He has been divorced twice so he might have experience here (not sure alimony was involved).