Glastonbury Spousal Support Lawyer

One major, but often misunderstood, aspect of any divorce is the issue of spousal support or as its commonly known, alimony. Either party may make a claim for alimony during a divorce, but spousal support is not assumed, and the court has broad discretion in deciding whether or not to order it. Also important is the fact that alimony can be waived and cannot be obtained in the future if it is not properly addressed by agreement or asked for at the final hearing.

A Connecticut divorce brings about the legal end to a marriage and its function is to make a fair and equitable division of the marital estate, including income, assets and debts, as well as to determine custody questions when there are minor children involved.  Alimony is one of the major piece to this overall financial puzzle and is a sum of money paid from one spouse to another for support.  Alimony is often comprised of periodic payments from the higher earning spouse to the lesser earning spouse and is based on the continuing duty to support.

A Glastonbury spousal support and alimony lawyer can work with you to establish a fair and equitable alimony order during a divorce.  Alimony can also be modified post-judgment under certain circumstances. Once hired, sour knowledgable attorneys will help you understand the legal requirements for alimony and make an argument for a fair and equitable order that best fits your needs.  Divorce can be stressful, and that stress is only compounded when finances and uncertainty are involved.  Our Glastonbury alimony lawyers can help you navigate this difficult process and work toward a resolution, whether achieved through agreement or litigation in court.

The Purpose of Alimony

Spousal support or alimony’s purpose is to maintain a standard of living commensurate with the standard of living during marriage for a spouse economically disadvantaged by the divorce.  Connecticut family courts have broad discretion in awarding alimony, but in addition to standard of living and continuing duty to support considerations, are guided by the statutory factors listed in Section 46b-82 of the Connecticut General Statutes. In deciding whether to award alimony, as well as the amount and duration of such an award, the courts must consider the length of the marriage; the age, station and occupation of each spouse; the amount and sources of income available to each; as well as their vocational skills and employability.  Each spouse’s estate and needs must also be considered, as does any separate financial award otherwise made as part of the divorce. In considering these factors, the court is not obligated to give each equal weight or specifically determine which factor(s) apply.

In situations where both parties have independent income before the divorce, this objective may come to fruition on its own. However, in circumstances where one party is financially dependent on the other, they may be unable to support themselves shortly after the split and alimony may be required.

In this situation, courts can order one spouse to provide support to even out this economic disparity. A Glastonbury spousal support attorney can provide more information about when alimony may be appropriate depending on the specific circumstances of your case.

What a Spousal Support Order Looks Like

While spousal support orders differ depending on the specific divorce, most share some common characteristics. The court usually orders one party to regularly pay the other a predetermined amount that stays the same for the length of the order. The court also sets a specific time period for which the order remains in effect, which depending on the circumstances could last for any number of years or the rest of the recipient’s life.

A spousal support lawyer in Glastonbury could build an argument that persuades the court to grant a support order that best serves the needs of both parties.

Retain a Glastonbury Spousal Support Attorney

Enduring a divorce can be a chaotic time in your life, to say the least. In many instances, it can be difficult to imagine what your finances may look like after the marriage comes to an end. For some people, this can involve working a full-time job for the first time in years, while for others it can mean supporting a household with only one income.

A Glastonbury spousal support lawyer may be able to help you fight for a fair alimony payment structure. A proper alimony order can affect your finances for the foreseeable future—let an attorney stand by your side as you pursue yours.