Loretta Hutchinson, a certified financial analyst with offices in Florida, answers:
Here are some pros and cons to consider:
If you don’t trust your spouse to make reliable monthly support payments, a lump-sum payment will remove this issue. However, there are ways to collateralize spousal-support payments and significantly reduce this risk. With a lump-sum payment you have immediate access to the funds, and this gives you the flexibility to purchase a new home instead of renting, or possibly pay off debts with high-interest-rates such as credit cards.
Some of the cons include: you risk spending your money faster than if you received it on a monthly basis over time; and if your former spouse declares bankruptcy after the divorce, his/her creditors may, under certain circumstances, try to recover all or a portion of your lump-sum settlement for their benefit.
Each divorce has its own unique aspects. Your family law attorney and CDFA™ can help you evaluate whether you should receive your payment in one lump-sum or over time.
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