If you get divorced, you may be required to pay alimony. Alimony is money paid by one spouse to help support the other spouse until they can become self-sufficient. For example, if an investment banker and his stay-at-home wife were to get divorced, the banker may have to pay alimony to his former wife until she can get a job and support herself. Alimony laws tend to be relatively loose, and much of the decision often rests with the judge’s judgment. It recommended that you contact divorce lawyers in Norfolk, VA if alimony is a factor in your divorce. A good lawyer will ensure that you only pay what is fair and that your divorce reaches the best possible outcome.
It depends on. Either the court can decide how much should pay for alimony, or the spouses can come to a separate, out of court agreement. There are a few guidelines that usually considered when calculating an alimony payment:
- Age of the spouses
- Amount of time it will take recipient to become economically self-sufficient
- Standard of living during the marriage
- Marriage length
Though breadwinning men traditionally paid alimony to their wives, it’s important to understand that alimony is gender-neutral. As the prominence of women in the workforce has increased, so it has the frequency of woman to man alimony payments.
How Long Will I Be Paying Alimony?
Alimony is only meant to continue until the receiving spouse can support himself or herself. Many divorce settlements will specify an alimony termination date, but many won’t; in this case, only a later order by the court can stop the payment. There are multiple occurrences that will halt alimony payments, and divorce lawyers Norfolk, VA can help you understand the nuances of your case.
How is Alimony Enforced?
Alimony enforcement lacks the teeth of child support laws. If you are delinquent with payments, your wages won’t be garnished, and no lines will make against your property. However, the recipient spouse could use a contempt of court proceeding to take the delinquent spouse back to court. If this happens, then the same compliance measures that are available to enforce any court order can be used against the payer.
What Else Do I Need to Know?
If you pay alimony, you may be able to deduct the payments from your taxes. To do so; However, all of the below requirements must meet:
- Your and your spouse have to file separate tax returns,
- Payments have to made in cash
- You cannot reside under the same roof as your former spouse
- You cannot be paying alimony as a substitute for child support
- You have no liability to complete a payment after the recipient spouse’s death
A good divorce attorney in Norfolk can help you navigate through the murky water of alimony and spousal support laws. Since there is significant money involved in alimony payments, it is highly recommended that you hire a lawyer as soon as possible.
The Firm For Men specializes in representing men in their divorce. We believe that divorce courts typically favor women, and have made it our mission to ensure men receive the outcomes they deserve. If you are a man and want to make sure that the courts treat you fairly during your divorce, feel free to reach out to us at our firm or by phone at (757)383-9184.
Disclaimer:
This is not to be construed as legal advice and does not create attorney client relationship. All cases are different and should be reviewed by a lawyer to determine each person best case scenario.
The Firm For Men 