What Qualifies You for Alimony?

Going through a divorce is never easy. Although it may difficult, you may start to think about the next chapter—and specifically about your financial situation. Is it possible for you to continue to enjoy the same standard of living without your spouse? If you’re going through a divorce and wondering what qualifies you for alimony, learn about some primary considerations here. 

How to Know Whether You Qualify for Alimony in California 

Alimony, also referred to as spousal support, is a legal arrangement that calls for payments from one spouse to another as part of their divorce agreement. Alimony isn’t a possibility in every situation, but it may be possible for you depending on the structure of your marriage and family life. 

A typical arrangement in many marriages is for one main breadwinner or the one who contributes to the majority of the household’s income. In many cases, one spouse opts to stay home to either take of the home, raise children, or both. When this happens, the spouse who isn’t working or works less sacrifices their own career for the family. 

In these cases, alimony may be granted to allow the non-working spouse after the end of their marriage. In the end, some of the factors that play a role include the spouse’s work prospects, income, and standard of living.

Additional factors that may be considered during the awarding of alimony include: 

• The job-related skills of the supported party, and the market for these skills

• The role that domestic responsibilities played in limiting earning capacity

• The ability of the supporting party to pay alimony

• The assets of both parties, including savings, debt, and real estate

• The length of the marriage

The only way to know if you qualify for alimony is to ask a judge to grant it after you have filed for divorce. 

Types of Alimony Available for Your California Divorce

It’s important to understand the difference between temporary alimony and permanent alimony when going through divorce proceedings. The factors that determine permanent alimony, such as the ones named above, will not necessarily come into play in a decision to grant temporary alimony. 

Temporary alimony is usually granted by a judge in order to maintain the economic standards of both parties so long as divorce proceedings remain active. Although nothing legally prevents a judge from considering the factors for permanent alimony while deciding to award temporary, it’s possible that a computer program used to determine child support will be used. 

If you’re worried about the impact of your divorce on your financial situation, consulting an experienced family lawyer is a good place to start. 

Contact an Experienced Family Law Attorney in Southern California

If you’re going through a divorce, don’t let a judge determine your eligibility for alimony without consulting a family lawyer first. The family law specialists at The Law Office of Laurence J. Brock can provide you with the representation you need to protect your financial interests.

Call 909-466-7661 or fill out the form below to speak to a Southern California family law lawyer from The Law Office of Laurence J. Brock.