Not that it might ultimately make much difference, but some recent news stories are stating that professional basketball player Tony Parker is playing a game of "she filed, he filed" in order to avoid any possibility that he might be ordered by a court to pay alimony to his soon-to-be ex, actress Eva Longoria.

The couple's marriage soured recently, and Longoria filed for divorce in California, a state where a judge has broad discretion to award, limit or deny alimony after consideration of a number of factors. Reports from various sources state that, although the couple signed a prenuptial agreement before getting married, Longoria is still seeking spousal support.

Those reports further note that spousal support is not allowed for in the prenup and, because of his view that Longoria would challenge that contract in California, Parker quickly followed up by filing his own divorce papers in Texas, where he is a resident.

Alimony there is quite a different story, given that Texas does not even recognize it under state law. Thus, if the case is heard in Texas, Longoria would have no chance whatever of collecting alimony.

Texas law does provide for a window of opportunity in some cases notwithstanding its position on alimony, namely, that a party can receive maintenance payments under certain circumstances if a marriage lasted more than 10 years. Parker and Longoria were married for far less time than that.

Longoria appears to have an uphill battle with alimony even in California, given that courts usually look to material disparity in income and opportunity for one spouse as reasons for granting spousal support. Given her fame and longstanding success as an actress, Longoria would seem to have a hard time arguing those grounds.

Pennsylvania residents seeking a simple and uncontested divorce that has no celebrity-type considerations and complexities should contact an experienced no-fault divorce attorney who focuses exclusively on superior low-cost service. Alimony is possible in such cases if both parties agree to it.

Related Resource: Los Angeles Times "Tony Parker files for divorce from Eva Longoria, Texas-style" November 22, 2010