Divorce can make a significantly financial impactto both parties. And this impact intensifiesif the couple has kids. Many divorced individuals seek alimony to limit any unfair monetary effects of a separation.
Alimony is an obligatory payment made by a continuing income-earner to a non-income-earning or lower-wage-earning ex-partner. Several reasons justify an alimony request, and a part of it can be that an ex-spouse might have forgone their career to support the family. Or maybe because they need time to study and develop skills to support the household.
Here are the four main reasons to claim alimony from your high-earning ex-spouse:
Caring for Your Family
The time each parent spends with their child and their contributions during the marriage plays a vital role in an alimony case. Since women assume the household and kids’ traditional caretaking role, the court is highly likely to award their alimony claim.
Maintaining Your Standard of Living
Many separationsominouslyinfluence a partner’s income and their ability to continue the same lifestyle after the divorce.
In addition, the impact of having one paycheck coming in can make it difficult to pay rent, mortgages, expenses, bills, taxes, and other payables. Luckily, the court is likely to consider your quality of life during the marriage before determining the alimony amount.
Ensuring Unbiasedness in Your Divorce Case
Long marriages make it easier to request and avail spousal support after a divorce.
Generally, for marriages of less than ten years, alimony tenure lasts no longer than the half of marriage’s tenure. And, if your marriage lasted eight years, you may expect to pay or receive alimony for four years.
To learn more about spousal support considerations, read the California Family Code section 4320.
Determining the Alimony Amount
Alimony and child support are the two most prominent issues that surround almost all divorce cases. But unlike child support, which is delegated under stringent guidelines, courts have far-reaching and broad discretion on determining spousal support awards.
The Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act determines spousal support statutes in most states. According to this act, the court considers the following elements before deciding on the alimony amount:
- The age, somatic condition, emotional state, and pecuniary condition of the ex-spouses
- The timespan that a recipient would require to become self-sufficient
- The pair’s standard of living during the marriage
- Marriage span
- The ability of the paying spouse, AKA obligor, to support the receiver while ensuring self-sustenance.
Looking for More Information on Spousal Support? Get in touch with Our Expert Family Lawyer in Chico, CA.
Either through court order or during a divorce trial, alimony comes up in most divorce cases. And because it’s often challenging to establish and support yourself or your child after separation, alimony payments can play a significant role in helping you adjust to the new life.
Moreover, the amount of alimony also depends on the court’s understanding of your needs—a significant reason many divorce cases often get nasty. Save yourself the hassle and get in touch with our family and divorce lawyers in Chico, CA.
We’ll help you swiftly navigate your alimony claim and achieve the desired results without messing up. Learn more about our expansive range of legal services or contact us today!
