Doesn't your ex have an obligation to provide for his or her own livelihood?

Questioner

I pay spousal support but my ex refuses to look for paid work to (partly) provide for her own livelihood. She is not disabled, works full-time as a volunteer in a kind of foundation and there are no other reasons why she would not be able to work. I am absolutely not too bad to pay alimony, but I have the feeling that she is abusing the situation. If you receive benefits from the UWV, don't you also have an obligation to apply for jobs? I currently pay more than 2,000 euros per month in spousal support.

Lawyer

Yes, your ex-partner is in principle obliged to provide for her own livelihood. This means that she must work or apply for benefits to provide for her livelihood, if possible. In the event that your ex-partner works as a volunteer and has no income, it is possible that she is unable to provide for her own livelihood and can therefore claim spousal support. It is important to emphasize that she does have the obligation to look for paid work, if possible, to provide for her own livelihood. If you feel that your ex-partner is abusing the situation by not looking for paid work, it is wise to talk about this with your ex-partner and look for a solution. If this does not work, you can consider asking a lawyer or a mediator for advice. The Divorce Shop may be able to help you with this. Their telephone number is 0800 822 443