Determining what kind of spousal support you should receive is an important part of the divorce process. It may seem like this is complicated and a difficult matter, but spousal support is nothing more than a business arrangement. It helps the spouse who is less financially independent until they can support themselves.
When deciding whether you need spousal support, you’ll probably need to know how you’re dividing your assets with your spouse in the divorce. Without that knowledge, it’s hard to say exactly what you’ll need, since you won’t know which assets you can liquidate or use to your advantage in the future.
How is spousal support determined?
Spousal support is determined by looking at a spouse’s needs, the length of time the couple was married, the type of lifestyle they maintained and the other spouse’s ability to afford spousal support. The court also looks at the ages and the health of both people involved to determine if spousal support is appropriate.
Spousal support is used to limit unfair economic impacts of divorce on spouses who earn less money or who don’t work outside the home. However, it’s not designed to last forever. Most of the time, spousal support is temporary and considered rehabilitative — ending when the other spouse can support themselves successfully or when the terms of the support order have been met.
Not all divorced people obtain spousal support, and not all need it. Your case is unique, so speak with your attorney if you believe that you should be receiving support, so that you can talk about what to expect moving forward.
