Should I Accept a Promotion Right Before a Divorce?

I’ve been asked this question before by clients, and it’s an interesting question. People may feel reluctant to accept a big promotion when a divorce is pending or they think they may be getting a divorce soon. If you think you may be on the hook for alimony and child support payments, you may be wondering if it would be better to decline a promotion so your income won’t be higher when you’re going through the divorce proceedings.

While almost everything is case-specific, which makes it hard to give a general answer to this question, declining a promotion or job offer with an increased salary is generally not worth trying to get out of alimony and child support payments. Involving your career with your personal life can have consequences if you avoid making smart career moves due to your pending divorce. It varies state-by-state, but even if you hold off on accepting a promotion until the divorce is finalized you may be obligated to self-report changes in your income. If your ex-spouse becomes aware of the promotion, they can file for a modification of the alimony and/or child support payments, which will result in both of you incurring legal fees.