When my husband I decided to start a business, we didn't think about the legal aspects of doing so. We didn't realize that purchasing business insurance, getting building permits and making investments all required some type of legal advice. But after speaking to a close friend, who also happens to own a small business, we contacted a business attorney. Now, we have the legal smarts to make the best decisions for our business, as well as the legal representation in case something happens to our company. I hope that you find my blog helpful and informative for your own business. It's a great resource for finding the legal advice, resources and guidance you need to get your company up and running.
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Alimony And Your Divorce: The Basics
Ronnie Mills
Divorce is never easy, and it's even more complicated when troublesome financial issues like alimony are thrown into the mix. The basic facts about alimony, also known as spousal support, are not necessarily well understood by the average person looking to end their marriage. Here is a brief guide to the topic for those wanting more insight on this subject.
Who Gets It
Whether a spouse going through a divorce is entitled to alimony is not always easy to determine. Divorce courts look at each couple's situation separately, and no two marriages have the exact same circumstances. The court will examine a variety of factors to decide if either of the spouses should get financial support.
One key factor in the decision is the incomes of each party. If one spouse has a much higher income than the other, this is a point in favor of the financially disadvantaged party receiving support. The health of both spouses is also a key factor. When one spouse is in poor health and has a lot of medical bills, this will be considered by the court.
Education is also important in some instances. For example, if one spouse has a law degree and the other has only a high school education, the court may decide that the disparity in future earning power is a reason to award alimony to the less-educated spouse. The length of the marriage also comes into play. Divorce courts are more likely to award alimony in cases where the couple has had a long marriage.
Types
The two primary types of alimony are rehabilitative and reimbursement. The former type is awarded to help a spouse who has not worked recently or has an educational deficiency to get the work training or education they need to support themselves. Rehabilitative alimony ends when the person receiving the money gets back on their feet. The other main type, reimbursement alimony, is intended to repay a spouse who went to great lengths to support their partner during the marriage. For example, if one spouse worked at a job to help pay for the other person's medical degree, the spouse who made the financial sacrifice may be entitled to reimbursement spousal support until they are repaid.
Clearly, alimony is a complex topic that cannot be understood completely by the layperson with the help of a trained professional with expertise on the matter. If you are divorcing and need to learn more about spousal support, talk with a divorce law attorney in your town.
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