Ivana Moral: Woman, 48, receives $327K in divorce settlement for 25 years of unpaid domestic labor
MALAGA, SPAIN: When a woman's ex-husband was compelled to pay out $327,000 in a divorce settlement, it was hailed as a victory for all women "in the shadows." According to the decision made public this week, a Spanish judge, Laura Ruiz Alaminos, ordered Ivana Moral's ex-husband of 25 years to give her the substantial sum as payment for her decades of unpaid chores.
Ms Moral claimed in a statement on March 7 that she had been left with nothing in spite of "all these years of devoting all [her] time, energy, and love in the family" after asking her ex-husband, who has not been identified, for a divorce in 2020.
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'I was never allowed access to his financial affairs'
The 48-year-old mother of two "exclusively" handled all household tasks during their marriage, according to the verdict, and frequently cleaned the family's gym, according to inews. The judge also stated that Ms Moral deserved the record settlement since she "was deprived of any possible career due to her exclusive dedication to the home and family," while her former spouse had "exponentially increased his assets."
After the couple got married in 1995, Mr Moral's partner spent money from his successful gym business on a Porsche, a Range Rover, BMW motorcycles, and a 70-hectare olive farm valued at $6.4 million, according to news sources. Despite this, Ms Moral claimed she was treated unfairly financially and that her ex-spouse failed to support the family's oldest daughter's education when she reached 16.
“I was supporting my husband in his work and in the family as a mother and a father. I was never allowed access to his financial affairs, everything was in his name,” she told the publication. While still caring for their youngest child, Ms Moral was initially left with only half of their home after their subsequent divorce since they had signed a division of goods agreement when they got married.
'She was his shadow'
Her lawyer said the judge’s ruling “represents the labor of all the women in the shadows … who, without a doubt, constitute a fundamental support in personal, marital and familiar terms during years and years so that the ex-husband could develop his professional career and a rise in wealth which at the moment of separation could not share. So he could get on in his career, she stayed at home to look after the children, and they never contacted anyone to help her.” Fuentes further said, “She was his shadow, working behind [him] so he could rise professionally and become someone.”
The payout of $327,366 was determined using the nation's minimum monthly wage. Her ex-husband has also been ordered to pay his ex-wife $800 a month as well as $640 and $960 to their daughters. He is expected to file an appeal.