Andrew
Daigle
By definition, alimony is a specific amount of
money ordered by a court to be paid by one spouse to the other.
The term of payments can either be limited or indefinite and,
traditionally, was designed to be paid by the husband to the wife.
Historically, men were expected to support their families while
women became homemakers. Today, everything has changed. With women
now being a staple in the workforce, the courts have employed
a new alimony-award system. Alimony, often referred to as maintenance,
can now be granted to either spouse and is largely based on economic
need.
Whether you are seeking or being pursued for alimony,
it is important to understand the different types and what they
mean to you. Permanent alimony, which does still exist, is typically
granted only if the awarded spouse is unlikely to gain employment
in the future. Temporary alimony, on the other hand, is granted
on the basis that the receiving spouse simply needs help in maintaining
a certain quality of life throughout the divorce process. One
example would be a marriage separation where one spouse immediately
vacates the household and leaves the other to pay the mortgage
and all other household expenses. In this case, a temporary alimony
award may be granted, during the course of a marriage separation,
in an effort to allow the receiving spouse to get back on his/her
feet financially prior to the actual divorce being finalized.
Rehabilitative alimony is considered to be a short-term
support award and can range anywhere from several months to a
few years. This type of support is not permanent, but rather is
designed to help the receiving spouse ‘rehabilitate' themselves
into the workforce so that he/she can earn a living through gainful
employment. This type of alimony is common if the spouse is temporarily
unemployed, but is later expected to return to the workforce.
If you are currently dealing with alimony, as
either the provider or recipient, a professional divorce attorney
specializing in this area can offer powerful divorce advice. Finding
the right divorce lawyer will involve discussing your case and
the financial issues surrounding your case. When it comes to alimony,
the court's main focus is one spouse's ability to pay the other.
If a situation arises where one spouse is unable to afford payments,
he/she must be able to provide proof to the divorce court through
a full disclosure of finances. Divorce lawyers are essential in
providing advice on divorce and how current divorce laws may affect
your case. In some instances, couples can reach an agreement on
alimony through divorce mediation. During this process, a neutral
third-party will work with the couple to reach an amicable arrangement
in all aspects of a divorce proceeding without a lengthy litigation.
As a final thought to alimony, it is important
to realize that no two divorce cases are alike. If you want to
find the best divorce lawyer for your individual needs, take the
time to speak with several divorce attorneys in your area who
specialize in the dissolution of marriage. Even if you plan to
proceed with divorce mediation, having a divorce lawyer may help
to protect your rights. When it comes to needing valuable divorce
advice on important financial matters, hiring a qualified divorce
attorney may be money well-spent.
The information contained in this article is designed
to be used for reference purposes only. It should not be used
as, in place of or in conjunction with professional legal advice
regarding divorce, alimony and/or divorce laws. If you are in
need of divorce advice or are considering a marriage separation,
consult with a professional divorce lawyer in your area for further
information and/or divorce advice.
Article Directory: http://www.articlecube.com Andrew Daigle is
an author and creator of many informational websites including
Divorce Attorney Search, Auto Insurance Quotes and many more.
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