Determining child support payments can certainly be complex, but there are mathematical formulas in place that help out. When it comes to alimony, nothing like that exists, so the whole thing can be far more confusing and difficult. It’s very important to know how this works and how much alimony should be fairly paid.
Many things must be considered. First of all, for the spouse who wants to receive alimony payments, the court has to look at the standard of living the couple is used to enjoying, the earning potential of that spouse and the amount of obligations the spouse has. For instance, if the spouse cannot work because he or she left the workforce during the marriage to raise children, this factors into the decision.
Naturally, the amount of money the other spouse earns has to be taken into account. The goal of alimony is to provide support that is fair and just, not to take everything from one spouse and give it to the other. Over time, if that person’s income changes – due to the loss of a job or the failure of a company, for instance – this may have to be revisited.
Furthermore, the duration of the marriage may be considered. It’s very different if the couple has been together for 20 years, depending on one another, than if they’ve only been married for a year and still have plenty of individual options.
Do you want to find out more about how alimony is calculated or how to get a fair ruling in Florida? If so, we hope you’ll check out our page today.
Source: Law Offices of Mark Abzug, “Parkland Alimony Lawyer,” accessed May. 08, 2015
