When you and your spouse end your union by getting a divorce, annulling your marriage, or legally separating, it may put one of you in a precarious or unfair financial situation. To make up for this, the court may award alimony to either you or your soon-to-be-ex-spouse. This is supposed to create an equitable situation as the spouses move from a household with two providers to independent living.
Determining spousal support in Southbury requires looking at the surrounding circumstances, including the reason for the divorce or separation in the first place, as well as the ability of you and your ex to support yourselves without help from the other. Our legal team has a proven record of standing by individuals and families who are moving through the divorce, annulment, or separation process. Our dedicated spousal support attorneys seek to discover responsive and effective legal solutions that empower their clients as they traverse what might be an unfamiliar situation.
Spousal support—also called maintenance or alimony—helps to assist a spouse with the financial transition from married to single life or to provide ongoing support if needed. As explained in Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-82, the court awards alimony when it is appropriate and necessary to create an equitable monetary situation for the spouses after the divorce is finalized. For example, one spouse may benefit from periodic payments to help them pursue a career they may have set aside before because they stayed home to raise the children.
The obligation to pay spousal support is analyzed under the same factors regardless of whether the person seeking support is the husband or wife. The court makes a case-by-case determination of what earning power, assets, and education each spouse has and their ability to support themselves after the marriage ends. Likewise, maintenance payments may be a single lump sum check or paid periodically for a certain period.
Attorneys in Southbury have the tools and knowledge to help people understand how the judge decides how much alimony is appropriate and who pays it. Additionally, the attorneys can take steps to make sure maintenance calculations are done in a fair and logical manner based on the existing situation.
The judge uses the specific needs and circumstances of each spouse to determine if alimony is appropriate, how much the recipient should get, and for how long. Likewise, if the spouses created a legally binding and valid prenuptial agreement that discusses maintenance payments, the judge may use this to guide their decision. Some of the factors the Southbury court may use to determine spousal support matters include the following:
Additionally, the court will also decide how long and in what amount alimony payments should be made to create an equitable situation. For example, a lump sum may be appropriate if the recipient spouse is in need of funds upfront to purchase a new home or pay off debt. That said, larger or more frequent payments may be necessary if the spouse needs ongoing financial support while they pursue higher education after devoting their married life to child-rearing.
When you are separating from your spouse, the topic of court-ordered maintenance payments may come up. Because determining spousal support in Southbury can be a contentious and confusing topic for people as they move through the divorce process, many choose to partner with a knowledgeable attorney who can help them through it.
Our legal team truly cares about those we serve, and we dedicate significant energy, resources, and training to hone our skills so we can advocate effectively for those who are experiencing a breakdown of their marriage. Contact our office today to set up a no-obligation consultation to learn more about your rights.
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