I should get alimony or a lump sum instead, what value some of the money would have if other considerations are considered (withdrawal fees, etc).
I know in my own settlement that I investigated what a lump sum payment would be and was told it would be in the 7 figures. I make very low 6. My total spend on what my lawyer thought was a really great deal will be in the neighbourhood of about $250k over the 6 1/2 years that the agreement will be in force for including what it cost me to buy her out of the marital home. In some ways I was fortunate to be able to buy her out before the current housing bubble hit.
I could have rolled the dice and paid more monthly up front and then taken her back to court to modify the agreement once she and OM were official but my lawyer wisely counseled me not to. "People lie" she said.
Not sure if she had inside information or not (all the lawyers in these small towns know each other) but as it turns out I doubt if I would have had an argument that being with OM meant that she was financially stable so might have been stuck with higher support payments anyway plus the pain of going back to court regularly for modifications.
Where I'm trying to go is - get good advice from professionals and go with your head and long term interests in mind and not your heart or anger. For me, the fact that I have a deal that will not suddenly change under-foot is a big positive and allows me - and I presume my xW - to make long term plans regardless of changes in the circumstances of the other party. Others might be tempted to roll the dice - and certainly none of us can predict the future as is attested to by the fact that we're here talking about this sort of stuff
On BD H52, W50 T27, M26 S21, D23 BD-9-Mar-16 D-15-Jan-18 Final-19-Apr-18 I am a storyteller. The story may do you no good. But a story is never for the listener. It is always for the one who tells
