As a person going through a divorce, one of your main concerns is likely to be whether you will be able to maintain the standard of living that you enjoyed while you were married, or whether you will be able to make ends meet once you are divorced.

Alimony is something that helps to equalize the playing field in regard to this matter. Its purpose is to make sure that the spouse with less income is able to receive financial support from the breadwinner. However, alimony is usually ruled as a temporary measure to provide support while the spouse is preparing to embark on a new skill or career.

When is permanent alimony ruled?

In cases where spouses are very unlikely to be able to find paid work to support themselves, and their spouse was the sole breadwinner in the past, it is possible that they will be given permanent alimony. This is more common in situations where one parent has dedicated one’s life to taking care of the children, and has therefore not been able to establish a career for oneself.

What factors are considered when allocating alimony?

In an alimony case, the judge will look into the living standards of the couple before divorce. They will assess how much each spouse will need in order to sustain that lifestyle, and question how long it will take for them to get to a position where they can earn more money.

Alimony is a complex matter and it is important that you take action to get the amount that you deserve after a divorce.

Source: It’s my Divorce, “Alimony: Who Should Pay It and How Much?,” accessed Jan. 05, 2018