While in a divorce, there are countless things that need to be considered. The divorce process itself can feel overwhelming. Things can be easier if there are no children involved, but that does not necessarily mean it will be any less stressful, especially when one is looking at their new future.
While many will view the future with hope as a new and fresh start, it can be daunting as well. This is especially true for spouses who had previously relied on the income of the other spouse during the course of the marriage. This is why it is not uncommon for the courts to award spousal support or alimony to a spouse who had stayed at home during the marriage, either to care for the house or for children from the marriage.
The purpose of alimony is two-fold. First, its purpose is to try to come close to maintaining a spouse’s previous lifestyle. For someone going out into their new life without a proper education or experience, it may be difficult to find work or to earn an income similar to what the other spouse had earned during the marriage. Alimony may be used to help pay for expenses until the other spouse is able to work and gain full independence.
It goes without saying that divorces are seldom easy and often complicated. It may be in one’s best interested to speak with a firm familiar with family law to help navigate through the process. In doing so, a person may become more likely to get the decisions they deserve while protecting rights.
Source: findlaw.com, “Spousal Support (Alimony) Basics,” Accessed May 29, 2017