Divorce and Alimony: What Should I Know Before Going Through the Procedures?

When a couple is divorced, the court may or may not order alimony. However, it's not exactly uncommon. Whether you plan to ask for alimony in your divorce or suspect your spouse will, it's essential to know what alimony is, what judges decide whether to award it, when payments can be changed or stopped and how both you and your spouse can reach a settlement on the issue instead of letting a jury decide for you. 

What Is Alimony? 

After a separation or while a divorce settlement is pending, Spousal Support is described as a payment made by one spouse to the other under a judicial order or the couple's agreement. Although alimony is referred to by different names in different states, such as spousal assistance and maintenance, the concept is the same. 

 

If you're considering alimony, it's helpful to understand what it isn't: 

 

The goal of Family law is not to make the financial condition of a divorcing spouse more equal, and instead, it's designed to ensure that both partners can meet their financial obligations. You don't have to be an ex-wife to be eligible for spousal support. Divorce rules in most states have been updated to be gender-neutral, and some women are now being forced to pay their ex-spouse's alimony for some time. 

 

What Are Alimony Payments? 

 

In most cases, alimony payments are made regularly, with a specific amount paid each month, as is customary. An arbitrator or a judge may issue an order for one spouse to pay another for support, either in cash or in the transfer of property (separate from the ordinary procedure of splitting the couple's marital property). 

 

Conclusion

Lump-sum, there is no going back on alimony awards. However, unless the initial court decision clearly states that alimony payments are "nonmodifiable," you can generally seek the court to amend or discontinue monthly payments. To get a modification or termination of maintenance, you'll need to show the judge that your or your spouse's situation has changed significantly, such as a paying spouse retiring or a supported spouse getting a well-paid new work.