Spousal support, or alimony, is financial payments made by one divorced spouse to the other to maintain their standard of living. Factors such as income and earning potential are considered in determining the amount and duration of payments. Types of support include temporary, repayable, rehabilitative, and permanent. Dual-income marriages have led to a decrease in the practice of awarding alimony.
Spouse support, commonly known as alimony or spousal support, is the practice of one divorced spouse making scheduled financial payments to the other. It is usually awarded when a divorce leaves a spouse with a significantly reduced standard of living. Depending on the region and jurisdiction, several factors are considered in determining whether alimony will be awarded, as well as the amount and duration of the payments. There are several types of spousal support, including temporary, repayable, rehabilitative, and permanent. As dual-income marriages have become more common, the practice of awarding alimony in divorce has become less widespread.
Divorce often has a significant impact on both parties’ finances, particularly if one spouse earns significantly more or less than the other. A spouse with a lower income may find that her standard of living is significantly lower once the incomes no longer mix. In these cases, spousal support is usually granted so that the lower-income spouse is able to maintain a standard of living close to that previously experienced.
Regional variations may influence spousal support decisions. Very often the relative difference between the spouses’ current income and potential income is the main factor that is taken into consideration; spousal support is more likely to be ordered by court when one person earns significantly more than the other and is likely to continue to do so. In many jurisdictions, the ability of the spouse with a higher income to make payments and still be self-sufficient is considered. Divorce guilt determinations are not considered as often in many spheres as in the past; in many regions, the guilty spouse can still receive alimony or support payments.
There are several types of spousal support that can be awarded. One type is temporary alimony, which is ordered while divorce proceedings are still in progress to prevent the low-income spouse’s financial hardship during the process. Another type is repayment often made when one spouse supports another for a period of time while that person is in education or training and the marriage ends soon after completion. An example of this is when one spouse supports the other while attending medical or law school; this form of spousal support can be arranged even if the payments are not financially needed to compensate the spouse for paying for the education.
Crib alimony is usually short-term and represents payments to a lower-income spouse while you pursue steps to raise your income so that support is no longer needed. Permanent spousal support is usually ongoing and lasts until either spouse dies or the beneficiary spouse remarries or long-term cohabitates. It can be reduced or renegotiated if a person’s circumstances change, such as loss of income or serious illness. It is often ordered in cases where one spouse has significantly lower income and reduced earning potential, often as a result of many years spent as a housewife or part-time worker while she cares for the children. Spouse maintenance is no longer granted as often as it used to be due to the increase in dual-income couples.
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