By arguing the law had to be gender blind, Cordell & Cordell Omaha divorce lawyer Jamie Kinkaid successfully defended an appeal allowing her male client to receive an alimony award.
The Nebraska Court of Appeals ruled the lower court was reasonable in awarding alimony to the husband, Ms. Kinkaid’s client, not based on need but more so on the contributions to the marriage and disparity in income.
Opposing counsel argued alimony should only be based on need and that the husband earned a decent wage that was more than his living expenses. However, Ms. Kinkaid presented case law that evidenced the lower court was correct with the only difference being that of gender since her client is male.
“I think the case serves as a reminder that justice is actually blind to gender, as it should be,” Ms. Kinkaid said. “It should serve as a wake-up to men that asking for alimony should not be shameful or undignified. If the roles were reversed, your wife would ask for alimony and not blink at an award.”
If you are a man faced with divorce, don’t succumb to historically gender biased preconceived notions about what a male can be awarded in a divorce case. Contact a Cordell & Cordell divorce lawyer to discuss your options.
Written by Joseph E. Cordell
Joseph E. Cordell is the Principal Partner at Cordell and Cordell, P.C., which he founded in 1990 with his wife, Yvonne. Over the past 25 years, the firm has grown to include more than 100 offices in 30 states, as well as internationally in the United Kingdom. Mr. Cordell is licensed to practice in the states of Illinois and Missouri and received his LL.M. from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Joseph E. Cordell was named one of the Top 10 Best Family Law Attorneys for Client Satisfaction in Missouri.
