Spouse support
During our marriage, I worked nearly 80 hours per week because the children's father was unable to maintain full-time employment. I was the primary financial provider for our family. I even supported him financially while he attended graduate school, despite being pregnant with our fourth child at the time.
A few days ago, his attorney sent me a settlement proposal requesting that I pay him $2,400 per month in spousal maintenance.
He is currently working with a life insurance company. If he chose to work in the field related to his graduate degree, he could likely earn a higher and more stable income. In fact, he recently quit one of his part-time jobs that was related to his major because he wanted to focus on selling life insurance instead. Over the past two years, his income has remained low, largely because he has chosen to pursue this career, which mainly involves networking and meeting people. I believe he has voluntarily chosen not to maximize his earning potential.
I have worked extremely hard throughout our marriage to provide for our family and to earn enough income to support all of us. In contrast, I do not believe he has made the same effort to pursue stable, income-producing employment. Instead, he chose to leave a job related to his education in order to focus on a multi-level marketing-style life insurance business, and now he is requesting spousal maintenance from me. He says he is simply exercising his legal rights because the law allows him to seek maintenance.
However, I am currently pregnant and due to give birth in October. I will be taking maternity leave, and after the baby is born, I will be the baby's primary caregiver because I do not have anyone available to provide childcare. As a result, I will not be able to earn the same income that I did in the past.
Given these circumstances, can he still insist that I pay him $2,400 per month in spousal maintenance?
It is so unfair how the circumstances are...
And Im fraustrated... and exhausted... stressed..basically he wants me to work more to support him. Ha......