While a divorce certainly brings with it a sense of finality, it does not necessarily signal the end of a couple’s association with each other. In cases where a couple shares children or one spouse is obliged to pay the other alimony, couples will continue to have to work together to ensure that such obligations are met going forward. Asking a couple that might not have worked so well together while married to continue to do so after their divorce may seem like a tall order, given the emotions that both might still harbor for each other. Those feelings can prompt disputes that can last years beyond a divorce becoming final.
The case of former NFL star and current talk show host Michael Strahan illustrates this point. Strahan and his ex-wife were divorced in 2006, at which time she was given a settlement of $15.3 million and he was ordered to pay $18,000 every month in child support. At the time, Strahan was still playing in the NFL. Upon his retirement, his child support obligation was decreased to $13 million. Yet since his retirement, Strahan has found success in other areas, which has prompted his ex-wife to petition that his child support obligation be increased. She also claims that Strahan has missed nearly $500,000 in support payments.
The hope is that a divorced couple can fulfill the obligations of their divorce agreement while remaining amicable towards each other. Yet as this case demonstrates, there may be instances where changes in one’s circumstances may indeed prompt changes (which could easily reintroduce tension into the situation). The best way to deal with such changes may be to enlist the assistance of an experienced attorney to offer sound guidance.
