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How can a person’s income affect their spousal support?

On Behalf of | Nov 13, 2015 | Spousal Support

Spousal support or alimony can sometimes be a difficult topic for a divorcing couple to discuss. Like many divorce legal matters, when a couple cannot find a resolution that they both can agree upon, a judge will decide for them. With this being the case, there’s a possibility that the spouse who is requesting spousal support will not get alimony, or they will get very little. Not only could this be due to how long the couple were married or their standard of living, a judge could also award a small amount of spousal support due to a person’s income.

When someone requests alimony, it is not simply awarded to them. If their spouse does not agree that they deserve alimony, a judge will examine a number of factors and make the decision for them. One thing they will examine is the requesting spouse’s income. Since spousal support is often used to help a person get back on their feet or allow them to maintain a standard of living similar to the one during the marriage, if a spouse is making more than enough money to support themselves, it may not be awarded.

There are some people who may actually need spousal support following a divorce, so if a judge does decide to award it to them, it will give them the time they need to become financially independent and no longer require assistance from their spouse. If a judge decides not to award alimony to the spouse who has requested it, they may disagree with the judge’s decision. However, since many things factor into whether or not someone is awarded alimony and how much that amount is, a judge may feel that they made a decision that was fair.

Anyone who is currently going through a divorce and is interested in requesting alimony from their spouse should consider contacting an attorney. Divorce disputes can turn nasty when people do not agree on an issue, so couples will need someone there who can help them navigate through these issues and find a solution in a more peaceful manner. Should couples be able to work through their problems, the spouse who is requesting alimony may be able to get the other to agree to what they want instead of letting a judge decide for them.

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