Alimony for life arrangement a mistake.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Q. At the time of our divorce after ten years of marriage, my wife was unemployed and needed support _ even though she was healthy and capable of working. She promised to go back to school and get a job. Against my better judgment, I signed an agreement _ prepared by my lawyer _ to pay her $20,000 per year until she died or remarried or until I died. I also agreed to increase or decrease the alimony every two years based on the cost of living index, and not to modify the agreement unless we both consented in writing. The judge signed an order approving the agreement when we divorced. Now, seven years later, I am paying nearly $25,000 per year even though my ex-wife has been …