Boca Raton mom swamped with alimony payments; lawyers say it's a common problem

BOCA RATON, Fla. - She went from a six-figure salary to losing her home. A Boca Raton mom says when her marriage broke up so did her finances and experts say in these hard times many emotional crises are turning into economic ones.

Sue Guerra has divorce paperwork documents every move she's made over the last two years, but she still doesn't know how she ended up here.

"I've worked hard my whole life, I had a house, a nice job, and now I have nothing but my kids part time," says Guerra.

Guerra used to make $200,000 a year as a sales representative for a technology company. A costly divorce left her with a $3,600 a month alimony payment, which she could afford until she lost her job in May. Guerra found a new sales job in August, but it was also a huge pay cut. She works from home, actually right from where she sleeps - her brother's couch. Even though she makes $75,000 a year now, her alimony payments clean her out.

"After you pay him, pay taxes and my health insurance I'm left with $300 per month," says Guerra.

Divorce attorney Jason Brodie says Guerra is not alone.

"This isn't a unique situation, this occurs more than you think. It's all based on our economy and what is going on in the world right now," says Brodie.

Guerra's children live at home with their father, in the four-bedroom house Guerra lost in the divorce. On October 21, Guerra will go before a judge to try and get her alimony reduced - six months after she first petitioned the court for a change.

"Because the legal system is backed up, there's no telling, it can take three, six, nine months, " says Brodie.

As she waits, Guerra says she can only think of her children. "It's hard to focus at work... I have to have faith and hope that I'll get through it."