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What is the goal of alimony?

On Behalf of | Feb 17, 2020 | Firm News |

Alimony is an interesting and sometimes controversial topic. If ordered to pay, you have to send money to your ex, even after the divorce. The point of the money is just to support their own lifestyle and financial needs, not the needs of a child, which may be addressed in separate child support calculations.

Many people contend that this is unfair. Why should they have to keep paying their ex to simply not be married to them any longer? What is the goal of alimony?

Overall, the goal is to help your ex avoid a financial hardship caused by a difference in earnings during the marriage.

For instance, maybe your spouse took a part-time job that they love, even though it doesn’t pay well, because they knew you had a high-earning job that could support them. Or, maybe they stopped working entirely when the two of you decided to have children. They stayed home with the kids and let you earn the money to pay the mortgage, buy groceries and pay for other expenses.

Either way, they counted on you. They made financial decisions because of you. They never would have made those decisions if they were single. Alimony can give them a chance to become independent over time by providing them with the support they always expected. It may just last for a few months or a few years.

Have you been ordered to pay alimony or did your ex get ordered to pay you? The financial side of divorce can become very complicated. No matter which side of this you are on, you need to know your legal rights and obligations.