If you are planning to divorce, you may have questions about spousal support, often known as alimony. Spousal support is financial support one spouse pays to the other spouse during and/or after divorce. It is intended to help the financially disadvantaged spouse to maintain an appropriate standard of living.
Spousal Support overview
If you are ordered to pay spousal support by the court, it may be ordered as a monthly payment that is modifiable as to duration or amount upon change in circumstances. Such change in circumstance could be until your spouse can obtain education, job training or other skills to become financially stable or until your income reduces, amongst many other things.
Support amount
The court will decide the duration and amount of spousal support based on many factors, including each spouse’s financial resources, earning capacity, length of the marriage and whether you and your spouse have a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement. Your age and your health, as well as your spouse’s, are also factors that are taken into consideration when determining spousal support requests.
The court may also consider your and your spouse’s contributions to the marriage, which includes work outside of the home and in the home, like raising children and maintaining the residence. Additionally, the division of marital property can also play a role in a spousal support determination.
The specific amount of spousal support and its duration will vary depending on your individual circumstances. If you’d like to learn more about spousal support, contact our office for a free initial consultation.