Alimony does not necessarily have to be paid for the rest of a divorced spouse’s life

When couples divorce, one spouse often ends up paying alimony to the other spouse so that they can support themselves and maintain their standard of living. This type of support is typically dreaded by the spouse who will end up paying it but vital for the one receiving it. Before you sign an alimony agreement drafted by your former spouse’s attorney, be sure you understand the type of alimony provided for and how this will affect your future.

Permanent Alimony

Permanent alimony is the most common type of alimony. It is typically awarded when couples who have been married for about 15 years or more decide to divorce and one spouse is unable to maintain their accustomed standard of living without support. Permanent alimony is considered somewhat old fashioned by some, as it harks back to the days when women traditionally did not work outside the home and therefore were not able to easily re-enter the workforce and support themselves if they became divorced later in life. Today, the high-earning spouse ordered to pay alimony may be male or female.

Temporary Alimony

Temporary alimony is, as the name suggests, a temporary measure. Because filing for divorce and finalizing all the agreements can take months or even years, judges often award temporary alimony to ensure that the dependent spouse can support themselves in a separate residence until the divorce goes through.

Rehabilitative Alimony

Rehabilitative alimony is often an excellent option to explore, from the point of view of both the payer and the recipient. This type of alimony is designed to provide the necessary funding and support for the non-earning spouse to complete any training or schooling necessary to successfully re-enter the workforce. It is good for the spouse paying alimony because it ensures the alimony obligation will have an end date, and it is good for the spouse receiving alimony because they end up with a marketable skill set and a career that will provide them with independence.

Transitional Alimony

Transitional alimony is designed to help the dependent or non-earning spouse transition into a new and separate life. Often this type of alimony is awarded as a one-time payment and may be used to cover a move or to purchase something like a new house or new car.

Alimony Is Awarded at a Judge’s Discretion

While your divorce attorney can help you figure out the best type of alimony and suggest an appropriate alimony sum, ultimately the decision will be up to the judge in your divorce proceeding. This means you need an attorney who knows how judges think. Torrence L. Howell has the skills and experience needed to help you understand what kind of alimony a judge is likely to award and how best to approach petitioning for that alimony. Call today for an initial consultation.