Alimony isn’t as rare as you think. Growing up, when I heard the word “Alimony”, I thought of all the celebrity divorces that made headlines. Movies and TV shows always made it seem that alimony was only an option when there was a substantial amount of money in the marital estate. I always believed that if both parties in a divorce could or did work for a living, that alimony would not be an option. I held this belief up until law school. Even when I took my first Family Law class, and I was told Alimony was rarely granted and there had to be good reason for it.
It wasn’t until I started working in Family law that I realized this was not true. Alimony is an option for a lot of situations regardless of wealth level. Alimony, also known as maintenance or spousal support, is court ordered financial support that can be awarded in the divorce process. There are a few different types of Alimony, and the type is awarded based on the timing and need for the award. After a divorce complaint has been filed, a Court can award Alimony Pendente Lite (APL), which is temporary alimony awarded with the intent of helping the financially dependent spouse litigate the divorce. Spousal support can be awarded after parties separate but before a divorce is finalized to help the financially dependent spouse with living costs that they may not be able to shoulder themselves upon separating. Long term Alimony is a permanent or specified term of financial support that is awarded when the divorce is final. Courts consider a lot of factors when determining financial support for the dependent spouse, including the income difference and earning capacity between spouses, cost of living, need for support, and more!
Many people stay in unhappy relationships because they are worried about the financial strain of separation and litigating a divorce. If you’re like I was and think alimony is more of a myth than a real tool to help financially-dependent spouses, you may have more options than you think. Often, a family law attorney can advise you if you are a candidate for receiving support and help determine estimates of what a court may order. At the Law Offices of Jennifer J. Riley, we are proud to help our clients make informed decisions and pursue all support options that can help them through these difficult life transitions. Alimony isn’t as rare as you think.
