Other than the emotional strain, Pennsylvania couples going through a divorce may have concerns about their financial future. There is often the fear that child and spousal support may not be enough to make ends meet, especially in circumstances involving costly private schools and multiple extra-curricular activities. A former cast member of The Cosby Show and his wife are getting a divorce, and a ruling has been made on child and spousal support amounts.
Joseph C. Phillips played the husband to one of the daughters on the hit show and has continued to act in recurring and guest roles on various television shows. His ex-wife, Nicole, filed for divorce after 23 years of marriage with the reason not given in a report on the matter. Although she petitioned the court for Phillips to not receive spousal support, the judge ordered her to pay Phillips child support in addition to spousal support.
The couple had three children together but only the youngest, a 17-year-old boy, is still a minor. Phillips will receive a monthly child support sum of $833 in addition to a retroactive payment of over $4,000 for the past five months. There is a two-month retroactive payment of spousal support, and then Phillips will receive $1,659 each month. The court also expects Nicole to pay $5,000 of Phillips’ legal fees. The report did not disclose Nicole’s profession.
In a divorce case, the judge will consider several factors to determine if and to whom spousal support should be paid. That type of support can also be modified through the years should certain circumstances in the lives of each ex warrant the change. A Pennsylvania attorney has knowledge of the state guidelines that will apply to each specific case.