Some Support Would Be Helpful: 3 Things You Need To Know About Alimony
by Joyce Diaz
Divorce can be devastating. Not only can it wreak havoc on your emotions and self-esteem, it can also wreak havoc on your financial well-being. Alimony provides you with the opportunity to receive monthly payments from your ex. The amount of support you'll receive will depend on how long you were married and which state you resided in at the time of the divorce. In Florida, if you've been married longer than 17 years, you may be entitled to permanent spousal support, meaning you'll receive monthly payments from your ex for the rest of your life. Here are some additional criteria that the courts will use in determining whether, or not, you should receive alimony.
Your Ex Was the Sole Bread-Winner
If you did not work while you were married, you may not have the necessary job skills to seek – and obtain – gainful employment. It can be difficult to make enough money to support your needs after divorce if you never worked, or if it's been many years since you last held a job. If your spouse was the sole bread-winner in your marriage, you need to speak to your attorney about alimony.
You're Unable to Work
If you're unable to work, the courts may determine that you're eligible for alimony payments. This is particularly true if you are unable to work due to age or disability. In addition, you may also be eligible for alimony if you're unable to work because you will be the sole caregiver for a disabled child. It's important to note that in Florida if your child has a disability that requires constant care, you may be entitled to receive additional child support payments for your child.
Your Standard of Living Will Be Dramatically Reduced
If you and your spouse enjoyed a standard of living that is well above what you'll be able to provide for yourself, you may be entitled to alimony. While alimony is not intended to keep you in the lifestyle you've become accustomed to, it is designed to ensure that your standard of living is not significantly reduced through divorce.
If you're going through a divorce, you want to make sure that you receive everything that you're entitled to out of the settlement. That includes alimony. If you have questions or concerns about alimony, or how it applies to you, be sure to sit down with an alimony attorney (such as one from Blumenauer Hackworth). They'll be able to help you explore the options that are available to you.
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About Me
Hello. My name is Stephanie Laurel. I have recently been through a divorce, and although I don’t wish it on anyone, I do wish that everyone could come out of the proceedings feeling they have been taken care of. My husband and I had been married twenty-eight years. We have four children, two of which are still under eighteen years of age. We owned the home we lived in and had a vacation home in a different state. We are civilized people, we get along fairly well considering, but no matter how much we thought we could go through the divorce process without lawyers, it wasn't possible. We each hired a divorce attorney to represent us. Most of the negotiations went well, but when we hit a rough spot the attorneys took over. Thank goodness. I’m going to share more about the experience and hope it helps you.