Divorce – Do It Right

Divorce – Do It Right

3 Signs That You Might Be Eligible For Spousal Support

by Joyce Diaz

Even though you might have heard of spousal support, which is also commonly known as alimony, you might have never thought that it would apply to your situation. If you are in the process of getting a divorce, however, you should know that there is a chance that you could be owed alimony by your soon-to-be ex-spouse. These are a few signs that you might be eligible for this type of support after your divorce:

1. You're a Stay-at-Home Parent

In many marriages, couples decide that it makes sense for one spouse to stay at home and take care of the children while the other parent works. This can help families save money on childcare expenses and can help them ensure that the children are properly cared for. The negative side to this, however, is that the stay-at-home spouse often does not have marketable job skills or relevant work experience in the event of a divorce, making it much more difficult for them to find a good job. If you are a stay-at-home parent who is facing divorce, you could be owed both alimony and child support from the working spouse.

2. You Have Health Issues

If you have serious health issues and are unable to work, the courts might determine that your spouse should help with alimony. This can help you provide for yourself even though you are physically unable to hold a job or even though you may have to work a part-time job rather than a full-time job because of your health issues.

3. You Aren't as Educated as Your Spouse

In many cases, the court system looks at the education of both parties when determining whether or not spousal support is something that is on the table. For example, if your spouse has a degree but if you do not, the courts could determine that it will be harder for you to find a good-paying job after the marriage has ended and that it, therefore, might be harder for you to take care of yourself. In this situation, the courts might determine that you should receive alimony for a specific period of time, such as to help you go back to school to get an education and secure a better-paying job or to help you make ends meet due to the education disparity.

Divorce law can be complicated, and things can get really messy when it comes to spousal support. However, if you think that you might be entitled to spousal support, it is a good idea to talk to a lawyer about it. This can help you ensure that you navigate the legal system the proper way and that you get any money that you might be entitled to, which can help you support yourself after your marriage has ended.

Contact a law office like The VK Law Firm for more information and assistance. 


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About Me

Divorce – Do It Right

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.