Divorced and Struggling: Enforcing Alimony Against a Wealthy Ex

Few financial situations carry more frustration than being legally owed money by someone who clearly has the means to pay. That is the reality facing one divorced woman in her later years, who collects $1,460 per month in Social Security benefits while her ex-husband — a 74-year-old with assets reportedly running into the millions — declines to meet his alimony obligations. The case illustrates a gap that many divorced older Americans quietly fall into: a court order on paper, and near-poverty in practice.

Alimony enforcement is not automatic, and that is the critical point many recipients fail to understand. Unlike child support, which in most states is backed by robust administrative machinery including wage garnishment and license suspension, spousal support enforcement often requires the receiving party to return to court and petition a judge to compel compliance. For someone with limited financial resources, the legal fees alone can feel prohibitive — a cruel irony when the entire dispute centers on one party's refusal to share their wealth.

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The presence of documented financial statements showing millions in assets is actually a meaningful legal asset for the woman in this situation. Courts take contempt of alimony orders seriously, and a clear wealth disparity between the parties can strengthen a motion to enforce. An attorney specializing in family law or post-divorce financial disputes can file for contempt proceedings, request that the ex-husband's assets be used to satisfy arrears, and potentially seek attorney-fee awards given the documented imbalance of resources. Some jurisdictions also allow liens to be placed against property or investment accounts.

Beyond the immediate legal remedies, this scenario underscores a broader vulnerability among divorced women in retirement. Social Security benefits for a lower-earning or non-working spouse are often modest, and alimony was designed precisely to bridge that gap after long marriages. When that lifeline is withheld, the financial and emotional toll compounds quickly. Advocates for older women's financial security have long argued that post-divorce enforcement mechanisms need modernization to match the realities of asset-rich, cash-flow-resistant defendants.

For anyone in a similar position, the most important first step is consulting a family law attorney about contempt proceedings — not accepting non-payment as a permanent condition. Continue reading at MarketWatch.com.