Can You Get Alimony?

If you are in the middle of a divorce, you may already be fearful of the way your financial situation is changing. Two really can live cheaper than one, and the effects of a divorce on those who've stayed home to raise a family can be particularly devastating. There is help available, though many people think it's a thing of the past. Read on to learn more about alimony.

Why alimony?

Traditional marriages often involved the husband working outside the home and providing financial security to the wife and children. This set-up caused a lot of issues when a divorce happened, so alimony was created as a form of financial support to aid those who did not have the education or work experience to just go out and get a job after a divorce.

The same is still true today, although the alimony provider is just as likely to be the wife as the husband. Alimony is meant to help even out the playing field and allow the needing spouse to get some help after the support of their partners has disappeared through a divorce proceeding.

A limited resource

The way that alimony is ordered has undergone another change; it is now often a temporary measure to assist a spouse for a limited amount of time. Unless the needing spouse is very old or impaired in some way (mentally or physically), alimony is likely to be of rehabilitative nature.

Rehabilitative alimony

Whatever is needed to get the receiving spouse ready to be financially independent is meant to be covered with rehabilitative alimony. Unlike permanent alimony, the time to get monetary help is usually limited to either a certain date or the fulfillment of a certain milestone. For example, rehabilitative alimony may expire in a number of years, or upon the recipient graduating from college or obtaining a job.

Should you ask for alimony?

The time to decide on this issue is before the final divorce decree is issued. This provision should be in place, even if the amount is but a token amount. The amount of financial assistance can be adjusted far easier than opening up the divorce decree to add the new provision in, so if you are in doubt, add it in.

You may be entitled to financial help, but you will need to ensure that you speak to an attorney, like Tise Allan Brandon, about it and have it added to your divorce.

 


Share