Mar 13, 2014

Women often wonder if they can get back at their husband for cheating by taking him for all he's worth during a divorce. Television shows do a great job of portraying this happening, but it's TV, not real life. The reality may be quite different, even when infidelity is involved.

You won't be awarded enough alimony to live on "easy street" for the rest of your life. It won't put you in a position of just sitting back and doing nothing for the rest of your life. Your husband or soon to be ex-husband isn't a financial plan. He's your husband and even if he will become your ex-husband very soon, the marital assets will be split equitably.

The financial plan for your future won't be solely based on his money. This is often something women dealing with a cheating husband don't believe. They think with the right attorney, they can take just about everything he has now and what he earns in the future. However, reality paints a different picture.

The no-fault divorce laws make it possible to get a divorce regardless of the reason. Pair this with the changes in the alimony laws and taking him to the "cleaners" is no longer a reality. You may not even receive any alimony.

No longer do we live in the 1950s. Back then, many judges would punish spouses for bad behavior and the alimony rewards were much different. Of course, many women stayed home with the kids and were full-time homemakers without the same skills as women have today.

If your husband cheats and you want a divorce, you will be expected to come up with your own financial plan. Understand, this new plan won't include taking half your husband's future salary.