There are a lot of financial and emotional challenges that result from the divorce process. One issue that can come up in the divorce process is whether one spouse should receive spousal support and if so, how much that spouse should receive each month. But how is this number calculated?

Typically, factors can include how long the couple was married, the ages of each spouse, the income they had been living on and current income, as well as future financial gains. Alimony is often awarded to help one spouse adjust to life after a divorce. But even after alimony is awarded, things can happen that can decrease the amount.

The amount of alimony can be adjusted if the receiving spouse gets a job or something happens and there is less need for the payments. But one woman had her spousal support check cut in half after her ex-husband discovered she had been belly dancing.

The man and woman had been married, but upon their divorce the woman began receiving spousal support because she was unable to work due to a disability. Unfortunately, some photos surfaced on a blog that showed the woman energetically belly dancing. In addition, the woman had also used the internet to post updates about her daily belly dancing activities.

As a result, the man went to court to get the woman's monthly payments reduced. And despite the woman's best effort to convince the court that dancing was part of her physical therapy, a judge lowered the amount of spousal support that she would continue to receive.

The images of the woman dancing likely convinced the judge that she was physically able to perform work functions. So if she could work, she would likely be able to sustain a livable income and not have to rely on spousal support as much.

Source: Star Tribune online, "NYC woman's lifetime disability alimony is slashed after ex spots photos of her belly dancing," Associated Press, 17 April 2011