Spanish court awards homemaker $200,000

“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.”

(CMR) A Spanish court has made a historic ruling that a woman should be compensated for unpaid housekeeping during her 25-year marriage. Ivana Moral, 48, will receive $215,664 from her ex-husband and a monthly annuity of $527 for handling every domestic task exclusively.

The judgment stated that Moral was entitled to the money as she had been “deprived of any possible career due to her exclusive dedication to the home and family.” Additionally, the verdict revealed that Moral had made “timely” contributions to the family gym business during their marriage.

Judge Laura Ruiz Alaminos, sitting at a court in Velez-Malaga in southern Spain, calculated the figure based on the annual minimum wage throughout the couple's marriage.

The unnamed man had reportedly amassed significant wealth during their marriage, purchasing a Porsche, a Range Rover, BMW motorcycles, and a 173-acre olive oil farm with proceeds from the family gym business. According to the Spanish publication NIUS, the olive oil farm earns him up to $4,215 per month.

Moral had signed a separation of goods agreement with her husband in 1995, which her husband insisted she signed at the time of their marriage. This entitled her to only half of their residence as part of any divorce settlement.

In an interview with the journal, Moral expressed her desire for women to know that they can claim housework compensation when there is a division of goods agreement. The mother-of-two, who filed for a divorce in 2020, has said she is happy with the payout after years of hard work.

Moral's attorney, Marta Fuentes, described the decision as a win for women who have toiled in their husbands' shadows, adding that Moral had played a significant role in her ex-husband's professional advancement.

This ruling sets an important precedent for women who have dedicated their lives to household chores and childcare while their husbands advanced their careers. It highlights the need to acknowledge and compensate for unpaid work in a marriage.