A breakdown of a marriage can take an emotional toll on families. Sorting through issues that partners must resolve in a divorce can often lead to disputes, especially when the couple has children or disproportionate income.
When one spouse is in a significantly better financial position, courts may order that they pay spousal support to their ex-partner.
Since the duration of court-ordered alimony can vary, you should speak with a lawyer about the differences between temporary vs. permanent spousal support in Southbury. Call today to schedule a meeting with a seasoned alimony attorney.
Connecticut General Statutes Annotated § 46b-82 authorizes family courts to order that a person is obligated to pay spousal support to their ex-partner. The most important terms in a spousal support order are the duration and amount of alimony.
The rule allows courts to order that a former spouse make permanent or temporary spousal support payments to their ex-partner. While permanent spousal support is longer than temporary, neither obligation lasts forever.
Permanent spousal support usually ends upon a particular event, such as:
Additionally, permanent spousal support may end if a spouse obtains court approval for a modification to the payment terms. A modification can reduce the amount or duration of spousal support, suspend payments, or end the alimony arrangement.
Spousal support can help the recipient spouse maintain a certain standard of living after the marriage. When making decisions about permanent or temporary alimony, courts can consider factors including the following:
Aside from permanent spousal support, Connecticut courts can also order one of several types of temporary alimony depending on the needs of a spouse. Some examples of temporary spousal support include alimony pendete lite and rehabilitative or time-limited alimony.
Alimony pendete lite is designed to provide a spouse with financial assistance while going through the potentially lengthy process of finalizing a divorce. Rehabilitative or time-limited alimony provides the recipient spouse with financial support and time to obtain additional education, training, or skills to become self-sufficient.
Like permanent spousal support, Southbury courts can also approve modifications to these temporary alimony arrangements. A judge will use the same initial factors outlined in Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 46b-82 when the amount was first set.
Another key difference between temporary and permanent spousal support in Southbury is that permanent alimony can lead to issues about an ex-partner’s long-term ability to pay their obligations.
To address this issue, Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 46b-82 gives courts discretion to mandate that a spouse obligated to pay permanent spousal support obtain financial security to help meet their future payment obligations upon the occurrence of certain life events.
Specifically, the rule states that a court may order the payor to obtain life insurance as security for their future payment obligations upon their death. The only situations where a court may not require a payor to obtain life insurance is if they provide evidence showing that life insurance is unavailable, the person cannot pay the cost of life insurance, or they are uninsurable.
Contact our legal team when you have questions about temporary vs. permanent spousal support in Southbury. Our experienced lawyers understand the issues you may face during divorce proceedings and could provide clarity throughout the process.
Our law firm is ready to help you work through your spousal support issues. Schedule an initial consultation with an experienced family law attorney today to learn more.