Personal Injury Attorney

Alimony can become a heated element in divorce. If your marriage lasted many years, and your spouse was underemployed or unemployed, you may face temporary payments after you separate. The money you make and the contribution your spouse made to the marriage are taken into consideration when payments are calculated. Discover what might determine whether you have to pay your former spouse or not.

Does Your State Have Alimony Laws?

States get to create their own laws for how they want people to handle divorce. These laws set out things such as dividing property and the basic shape a child visitation agreement should take. It also sets out the parameters for alimony or spousal support. In some states, the provisions are strict, and in others, the length of the marriage is the only thing considered. Regardless, it is important to keep in mind that a judge can award alimony to your spouse even if your situation doesn’t fit into the statutory requirements.

Are You the Primary Breadwinner?

One thing that determines whether you are on the path to paying alimony is if you are the high-dollar wage earner. When one spouse makes significantly more than the other, there is a reasonable expectation that equalization payments may be made. These come in the form of either a one-time lump sum payment or through alimony. Remember that maintenance is rarely a lifetime requirement. The length of time is usually based on how long you were married and the health of the spouse receiving payments.

Did Your Spouse Sacrifice a Career To Raise Kids?

When couples start a family, they have to face many choices that may change the course of their professional and personal plans. One of the biggest is whether one spouse will stay home to care for the kids. This is usually the lower-earning spouse or the one who prefers to stay home. This type of arrangement leaves that stay-at-home spouse without an income for years. Thus, alimony is meant to help support the recipient for a prescribed time. The person who is getting paid may face requirements along the way. A court may believe that your ex has the skills and abilities to become employed gainfully in a shorter period. Thus, the alimony payments may end sooner rather than later.