Family Law: What You Should Know About Alimony

When it comes to filing for divorce, one thing you might be worried about is alimony. Alimony, which is also known as spousal support, requires you to pay a certain amount to your spouse after you have divorced. There are many reasons alimony is approved by the court system, and if the judge orders alimony to be paid, you will need to continue paying the payments until certain life events take place. Here is more information about alimony.

When You Don't Have to Worry About Alimony

There are a few different situations where alimony will not be approved by the court. The first situation is if you have only been married for a short period of time. Every state has their own minimum required time to be married before approving alimony payments, but if you have been married a year or less, you will most likely not need to worry about it. You also don't have to be concerned with alimony if you and your spouse earn close to the same amount of money.

When You Pay Alimony

The first thing to note is that the courts do not automatically suggest alimony payments to one spouse. If your spouse earns considerably less than you or is unemployed and you asked for a divorce, they have the option to request it. However, if they do not want alimony payments from you, you don't need to worry about it. Typically, if you have been married for a long time and your spouse has become accustomed to a certain lifestyle, chances are you will need to pay alimony.

How Long You Pay it For

You won't be paying alimony for the rest of your life in most cases. There are a few different life events that can put a stop to the payments. The first is if the judge sets a date for when you stop paying, just as several years after the first payment. You will also stop paying alimony if your spouse gets re-married, or if your spouse gets a good paying job and has shown they can support themselves.

How Much You Pay

The judge will order alimony payments based on how much you earn each month and what your spouse needs to live on. Keep in mind if you have had a very good year prior to the divorce, you are going to be paying a good amount of money. If your business or job reduces payments in the next few years, you still have to pay the same amount, unless you can return to the courts and request smaller payments based on your current wage.

Contact a family law attorney to learn more about alimony.

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