Questions Answered About Spousal Support During Divorce
Many people are under the mistaken impression that spousal support (also know as alimony) is no longer available. If you are divorcing, you should understand provisions exist in every state that allow spousal support to be ordered, if needed. To get more information about spousal support and how it is used, read on.
What is spousal support for?
Originally, spousal support was way to help even up the playing field when a divorce occurred. Throughout history, women often experienced a drastic change in financial circumstances when they divorced. Women just naturally, throughout time, gravitated toward being homemakers and caregivers for both children and for older members of the family. Unfortunately, those pursuits paid poorly so spousal support was often ordered to help bring the wife's financial situation up to par.
Present time finds women by the hoards in the workplace, but spousal support still exists for those who can show a need. Men are also equally eligible to receive this important form of financial support these days too. It is not about gender, but whether or not the spouse gave up career or educational opportunities to stay home and care for children. Likewise, a spouse may have worked at dead-end jobs to put their loved one through college, and now could be facing some financial degradation because of that sacrifice.
What does spousal support looks like now?
While the need for this form of support has not changed much, the way that it is administered has. Lifetime spousal support is rare now, and usually only ordered when the spouse is older or in poor health. In most cases, spousal support is often temporary or rehabilitative in nature.
When the spousal support is temporary, it is ordered for set period time. It can be for months or even years, but it ends at some point. This type of alimony is best for those who just need a set period of time to complete job training, for their children to enter school or for other reasons.
When spousal support is rehabilitative, it is ordered for a more flexible length of time and is based on the recipient's educational or job training goals. For instance, if a spouse needs two years to complete a medical coding class to gain employment, the rehabilitative alimony might end upon that goal's completion. The end dates for rehabilitative alimony is more flexible and may be adjusted if needed.
If you are divorcing, it might wise to at least place a token spousal support provision within the decree, which will enable you to ask for more later on. This is easier than asking for a provision that was left off the decree entirely. Speak to a divorce lawyer for more information.
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