Your marriage is ending, and your spouse has been the primary earner for years. The question that follows is immediate and practical: will you be entitled to alimony?
Alimony, also called spousal support, is a payment one spouse may be required to make to the other after a divorce. Its purpose is to help the lower-earning spouse maintain a standard of living similar to the one they had during the marriage.
To obtain alimony, this is the typical avenue:
- Determine if you are eligible. Not everyone is eligible to receive alimony. Eligibility is typically determined by factors such as the length of the marriage, the income and earning capacity of each spouse, and the standard of living during the marriage.
- File a petition with the court. If you are unable to reach an agreement with your spouse, we may need to file a petition with the court. This initiates the legal process of requesting alimony. You will need to provide information about your income, expenses, and financial needs.
- Attend a hearing. The court will schedule a hearing where you and your spouse present your cases. The judge will consider factors such as the length of the marriage, the income and earning capacity of each spouse, and the standard of living during the marriage when deciding.
- Receive the alimony award. If the judge decides to award alimony, you will receive payments from your former spouse according to the terms of the court order.
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