Q: My wife is a Costa Rican national and has permanent residency in the United States which she obtained through…
our marriage. However she moved back to Costa Rica a year ago and doesnt plan to return. I am a United States citizen. We have been married 5 years and got married in Costa Rica. We are currently getting divorced in Costa Rica, I signed power of attorney to a lawyer there. She is asking for $2000 a month alimony. We have no kids. My question is, how difficult would it be for her to enforce that alimony payment from Costa Rica? Could she have my wages garnished in Washington state? And could I hire a lawyer here in Washington to protect me from the alimony enforcement, or would I have to settle any issues with that in Costa Rica?
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A:
Enforcing an alimony order from Costa Rica in Washington State can be complicated but not impossible. Your wife would need to go through the legal process of domesticating the foreign divorce decree in the U.S., which typically involves proving that the Costa Rican court had proper jurisdiction and that the proceedings were fair.
If the order is recognized in Washington, it could potentially lead to wage garnishment or other enforcement actions. However, you could hire a lawyer in Washington to challenge the enforcement of the alimony, especially if there are concerns about the fairness or jurisdiction of the original order.
It's also possible that some legal matters might need to be addressed in Costa Rica, depending on the specifics of the divorce agreement and any applicable international treaties. Consulting with a lawyer familiar with both U.S. and Costa Rican law would be a wise step to protect your interests.
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