Split families should have a similar standard of living

[kevinandgail]

AIBU to think that split families should have a similar standard of living. Not one family living hand to mouth and the other wearing designer clothes and flying business class?

I think you’ve posted in the wrong section.

I think it very much depends on length of marriage, who’s earning what and how far the disparity. There’s a world of difference in a 3/4 year marriage breaking down, one partner earning significantly more and the other with a hobby job, m and a 20 year marriage with kids where one partner has clearly sacrificed their earning capacity to support a high earning partner.

You can report your OP @kevinandgail by clicking the 3 dots icon and ask mnhq to move it to the correct section.

Split families shiuld be placed on an equal footing at the time of divorce with the assets split to give both parents an equal chance of thriving. If one former spouse has a massively greater earning capacity than the other then that can be reflected in giving the other a greater share in the assets. But no, 5 years down the line after the divorce it's not reasonable to expect equality - once the marriage is disolved each is a free individual with the capacity to seek their own destiny which may well include one getting richer. If one parent doesn't have that freedom because of the way responsibilities for children are split then maintenance is appropriate, or splitting those responsibilities differently to equalise the freedom.

If the couple didn't get married then also no, the "bit of paper" that non-marrying couples dismiss as unimportant is the agreement to tie your financial status together for the duration of the marriage. If you don't commit to that you can't expect it.