Ending a marriage can be hard for many reasons, but concerns about financial stability can be a serious inhibitor to seeking divorce for those who are dependent on their spouses for income. When preparing to divorce, a party may wish to seek alimony, also known as spousal support or spousal maintenance, from their ex to help them stay afloat while they figure out their new life. Whether alimony is awarded in a divorce will depend on factors directly related to the circumstances of the parties.
This post will discuss some of the factors that Illinois residents may expect to discuss if alimony will be part of their divorces. No part of this post should be read as legal advice. Whenever questions regarding divorce and alimony arise, readers can seek counsel from their trusted family law attorneys for guidance.
Considerations for alimony awards
As mentioned, alimony can be awarded based on specific factors present or absent in the situation of the divorcing parties. Those factors can include, but are not limited to:
- The standard of living enjoyed by the divorcing parties during their marriage
- The ability of the spouse seeking alimony to find gainful employment
- The ability of the paying spouse to provide alimony to their ex
- The age and health of the divorcing parties
- The length of the parties’ marriage
- The property division and tax consequences of the divorce on the parties
As readers can tell, evaluations of these factors may yield different results depending on the circumstances of the divorcing parties. To determine if alimony will be awarded, individuals can speak with their attorneys as it is impossible to predict specific legal outcomes.
Getting alimony after an award
If a court elects to award alimony in an Illinois divorce, the recipient spouse will receive support based on guidelines established by the state. The guidelines take into account the incomes of the parties and specific percentage calculations to yield a fair alimony outcome.
It is important to note that parties can also agree to alimony terms outside of court orders. The parties to a divorce can negotiate their own alimony settlements and establish their own terms. Once the parties have created alimony plans, they can submit their plans to their divorce court to incorporate the plans into their divorce order.
Money is a topic that can cause stress during marriage and can drive some couples to end their relationships. Unfortunately, money can be a problem for individuals who have ended their marriages in divorce. Alimony is an important tool that can bring financial stability to men and women who are unable to pay for their own needs once their marriages are over.