Certain Factors Affecting Spousal Support or Alimony Payments

1. Certain Factors Affecting Spousal Support or Alimony Payments You will have a harsh emotional experience when going through the process of dissolving your marriage. A divorce can certainly affect you in many ways, but you will also have to worry about how to maintain your standard of living after being divorced. This is exactly when you may want to work with a legal expert tolearn more about spousal support or alimony payments. Your alimony payments are usually determined by the court, but you need to understand that so many factors can affect the total amount. Here are a few factors a judge is likely to consider when determining the amount and type of spousal support. Your Standard of Living One of the most important factors the court is going to examine when determining the alimony payment is your standard of living. The court is going to examine both parties’ financials and assets to determine the alimony payment required to maintain the lifestyle a couple obtained during the

2. marriage. The court usually reviews the value of assets, including vehicles, homes, and more. Sometimes, the court may also consider the recreational lifestyle of all parties’ involved in the case. Duration of Marriage For how long you have been married will also have an impact on the total alimony payment. In most cases, if you have been married for longer than 17 years, it is considered a long-term marriage in the court. Those married for longer than seven years fall in the category of “moderate-term marriage”. Anything less than seven years is considered a short-term marriage. The amount of spousal support will go up in case of a long-term marriage. The Condition of the Couple The court is also going to consider the physical and mental condition of both parties involved in a divorce case to determine the alimony should be rewarded or not. There is a greater chance of receiving alimony in case one spouse is disabled, older, or suffering from chronic health problems. Professional Capacity The presiding judge is going to consider the professional capacity of both parties when evaluating and determining spousal support. The professional capacity actually refers to the capacity of both parties to earn money on their own. It includes factors such as professional experience, education, and the employability of the parties involved in the case. The court will consider the spouse is in a position to work after the divorce. In addition to all these points, the court is also going to pay attention to each spouse’s contributions to the marriage. Some spouses may contribute in other ways like they play their role in homemaking, child rearing, and the career building of the other spouse. It shows that the spouse has put in a great effort to improve the family and marriage, and even though the contributions are not in a financial way, they may still get a higher spousal support for their effort. So, keep these points in mind and talk to an experienced lawyer to know how much you may get or pay as spousal support in certain situations. Article Source: http://www.forceocean.com/certain-factors-affecting-spousal-support-or-alimony- payments/