Pennsylvania woman wins $1,000 monthly alimony for three years after spending $80K in savings

A Pennsylvania appeals court has upheld an order requiring a man to pay his former wife $1,000 (£770) per month in alimony for three years. The court rejected his argument that the five years of temporary financial support he had already paid during their divorce proceedings was enough. The ruling by the Superior Court of Pennsylvania upheld a financial order issued after the divorce by the Adams County Court of Common Pleas in the case of Cathell v. Cathell, filed under case number 491 MDA 2026. According to official court records published on Justia Law, James D. Cathell appealed the lower court's decision to award monthly alimony to his former wife, Lisa M. Cathell. James argued that the couple had been married for eight years and that he had already paid temporary spousal support, known as alimony pendente lite (APL), for five years while the divorce case was ongoing. He said requiring him to pay another three years of alimony was unreasonable. However, the appeals court agreed with the lower court. The judges found that Lisa's financial contributions during the marriage and her reduced ability to earn money justified the continued monthly payments.Marital savings spent on husband's homeJames and Lisa Cathell married on 8 February 2012. They remained together for eight years before separating, according to court records.