Franklin Alimony Attorney
Divorcing your spouse does not necessarily mean you stop financially supporting them. In some cases, ongoing financial support is required by the courts. This is called alimony, or spousal support.
As you can imagine, alimony is a contentious topic. People love receiving it but nobody likes paying it, understandably. However, some courts will order one spouse to pay the other if there is reason to believe that one spouse will be unable to financially support themselves following a divorce. This is especially true for stay at home parents, those who lack skills and education, and those who make a lot less money than their spouses. If either spouse has no need for alimony or there is no way for either party to pay it, then alimony will likely not be awarded.
Want to dispute your alimony determination? Contact the law firm of Beal | Crutcher today. Our Franklin alimony attorneys will help you get the best results.
Types of Alimony
Alimony can be paid before or after a divorce. When it is paid before the divorce is finalized, this is called temporary support, or pendente lite. This is awarded as long as the divorce is pending and may terminate on a specific date.
Tennessee allows four other types of alimony:
- Periodic alimony. Also known as permanent alimony, this alimony is granted to a spouse for an indefinite period of time. It ends once the recipient remarries or the paying spouse dies.
- Transitional alimony. As the name implies, transitional alimony helps a spouse transition from married life to single life. For example, it could be alimony given to help pay for an apartment or furniture.
- Rehabilitative alimony. This type of alimony is usually given for up to five years. It allows the recipient spouse the time and money to obtain skills and education needed to get a job and become self-supporting.
- Lump sum alimony. Instead of paying alimony on a monthly basis, the judge may order the spouse to pay a lump sum amount. This is usually done when the spouse can afford it or it may be done in lieu of a property settlement.
What Else to Know
There is no minimum length of time that you have to be married in Tennessee in order to receive alimony. Whether you have been married for one year or 20 years, you have a claim to it if you need it. However, the longer you have been married, the longer you will receive alimony, for the most part.
There are no exact formulas for determining the length and amount of alimony payments. There are unique factors to consider in every divorce case. However, once the divorce is finalized, alimony is no longer an option.
Contact Us Today
Alimony is not available in all divorces. If you think you need it or don’t think it should be paid in your situation, contact a lawyer to understand your legal rights.
The law firm of Beal | Crutcher can help you with a modification. There may be other options available. Learn more by scheduling a consultation. Call our office today at (615) 861-2304.
