Imagine this: You and your significant other are happily married. You and your spouse decide to have children and you agree to become a stay-at-home parent and quit your job. As the years pass, you and your spouse start to drift apart and find there is nothing that can get the spark back into your marriage. You then decide to make the unfortunate decision to get a divorce. As it all sinks in, you start to question how you will survive financially. As the primary caretaker, you will receive child support for your children, but you know it won’t be enough to support you and you worry about making ends meet. Is there anything you can do?
The answer is yes, you can request alimony.
Even if you are not a stay-at-home parent, but you make less than your spouse, you could still qualify for alimony. It’s important to note that alimony in PA is based on need, not gender. Husbands or wives can qualify to receive it.
Alimony is a court-ordered payment that is awarded to a spouse, either through a divorce agreement or through a court ordered settlement. Alimony provides support to the lesser earning spouse to assist in getting them back on their feet financially. Keep in mind, not every request for alimony is granted. The court uses a series of 17 factors to determine alimony and not with the use of a mathematical formula. This means that in some cases, a spouse may receive alimony for life, while in others, alimony is brief in duration or not awarded at all. This is especially if the lesser earning spouse retains a larger majority of the assets.
Each situation is different. It is best to have a lawyer to help ensure you get the support you need. Here at Sher & Associates, we have a lawyer on staff who has extensive experience in divorce and family law matters. They assisted many individuals in getting the alimony they deserve. If you are going through a divorce, contact us today to set up your appointment to discuss your options. In the meantime, you can run some child support estimates with this state provided support estimator.
Disclaimer: This is a simple overview of the subject matter. Please consult an attorney for legal advice about sole proprietorship.
Sher & Associates, P.C. is a law firm located in Kutztown PA that can assist you in any of the following areas: business law, real estate law, family law, equine law and estate planning. We assist many individuals, businesses and families in and around Fleetwood PA, Blandon PA, Topton PA, Hamburg PA and Schuylkill Haven PA.
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