Your spouse was already wealthy when you married, but they promised to provide for you from that day forward — and they have. Unfortunately for you, that also means they’ve kept a rather tight hold over the family’s finances.

You feel more like a prisoner than a spouse. But how can you end your marriage if you can’t even afford to hire an attorney?

Temporary orders can ease your financial concerns in a divorce

Your situation may feel desperate, but it’s not unique. In fact, it’s so common for one spouse to hold the purse strings in a marriage (and shut out the other), that the courts understand that there may be a need for official action.

That’s why family courts frequently issue temporary orders when a couple separates to govern things like:

• Who will pay the household’s bills, including the mortgage, utilities and grocery costs
• How much child support one party may have to pay while the divorce proceeds
• How much spousal support the higher-earning spouse may have to pay
• What kind of custody and parenting plan will be in place for the children

When it comes to legal fees, the court can also force the affluent spouse to pay for the less-affluent spouse’s attorney bills, court fees and more. This is considered a form of alimony (spousal support).

While there’s no set rule on how much alimony you’ll receive (or how long) in this state, the odds are high that the court will recognize the unequal financial situation and “level things out” so that you can afford proper representation during your divorce — among other things that you need.