A lot of marriages fail. In 2014, there were 813,862 divorces and annulments, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s why you need to think things through before you say “I do.” However, if you do find yourself in a position of getting a divorce and asking for spousal support, here are some things you need to know:
Spousal Support
Also widely known as alimony, this refers to any financial assistance paid to support the less-financially stable spouse after a divorce. These fall into two types: short-term support and long-term or permanent support.
Temporary Support
Some spouses get temporary support until the divorce is final. In some cases, a spouse can receive more than one kind of support, such as rehabilitative and short-term support. When the spouse successfully finds work again, then the rehabilitative support is terminated.
Long-Term or Permanent Support
This is often awarded to spouses that have been in the marriage for at least ten years, especially if the spouse won’t be joining the workforce and require support for the rest of his/her life. Support may be terminated, though, if the spouse remarries or if either the payor or recipient of the support passes away.
Reimbursement Support
This support isn’t based on financial need, but is rather meant to compensate a spouse for personal and professional sacrifices made during the marriage in support of his/her husband or wife. If a spouse chose to work or stay at home to take care of the kids and run the home while the other spouse trained for a professional career, that means that the at-home spouse can ask for reimbursement support if the couple files for a divorce.
Legal Help
If you and your spouse need to work out support arrangements, make sure to consult a lawyer. By hiring a Plainfield Divorce attorney, you can resolve these family law issues in a way that’s fair to both parties.
