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SPOUSAL SUPPORT AND MANDY MOORE AS THE STRUGGLING SINGLE PET MOM?

On Behalf of | Jan 11, 2016 | Spousal Support

It turns out being a cat lady is pricier than we thought. Mandy Moore and singer Ryan Adams have been trying to hash out a settlement since she filed for divorce in January of last year. The main wrinkle? Their six cats and two dogs. Mandy argues that Adams should pay her spousal support to maintain them. She is fighting for a whopping $37,000 per month and for Ryan to take half of the pets.

“Although I love our pets, it is overwhelming for me to take care of all eight of them all of the time. I was even forced to cancel a prior work engagement because my housekeeper was ill and unable to stay with our pets,” Moore explains in recent court documents that have come to light. Moore also claims that her soon-to-be-ex brings in $151,000 per month, while she earns a quarter of that.

In Pennsylvania, spousal support can refer to spousal support or alimony pendente lite (APL). Spousal support and APL are calculated in the same way: 40% of the difference between the payor’s net monthly income and the recipient’s net monthly income if there are no minor children, and could also include some deviations which could increase or decrease the support award. If Mandy and Ryan were Pennsylvania residents, Moore would likely be entitled to spousal support or alimony pendente lite, especially if the income gap between her and Adams is as great as she claims. Pennsylvania wants to ensure that the parties on even footing during a pendency of a divorce.

While there is no particular “pet statute” written into Pennsylvania’s Divorce Code yet, the fact that Mandy would be the sole caretaker for all eight of the pets that were once shared by she and Ryan might be a factor considered by the court. A court would most likely not be inclined to order Ryan to take half of the pets if he has expressed no interest in caring for them. However, to compensate for Mandy’s loss on that front, the Court may add some figures to her requested $37,000 per month in spousal support for her four-legged friends.

If you have questions about spousal support, contact the experienced family law attorneys at McMorrow Law, LLC at 724-940-0100 for a free consultation.

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