Alimony Terms you Should Know

 Posted on June 05, 2012 in Family Law

When going through the process of divorce, you will probably hear the term alimony several times.  But did you know that there are several different types of alimony?  Here are some of the types of alimony the court may choose to award:

Alimony or maintenance:  First, do you know what the term “alimony” refers to?  Often we hear about outrageous sums celebrity spouses demand following the breakup of a marriage.  Alimony (known in some courts as maintenance) refers to payments from one spouse to the other spouse for the benefit of the spouse receiving the payment.

Temporary alimony is given while the spouses are separated, but before the divorce is final.  The alimony may or may not be continued once the divorce is final.

Rehabilitative alimony is given in order to help the receiving spouse so they can acquire greater training or earning power in order to become self sufficient.

Permanent alimony is a payment that continues for an indefinite time.  The payments may not cease until the spouse receiving the payment dies.  If the spouse begins cohabitating with a member of the opposite sex, often the alimony will stop.

Reimbursement alimony is meant to reimburse the spouse receiving the payment for expenses incurred by the spouse making the payment.  The most common case is when a spouse works to support the other spouse while the other spouse attends school.

Lump sum alimony is a one time payment of a fixed sum that will be given to a spouse regardless of the circumstances in the case.  In some cases, this type of alimony will continue to be paid even if the spouse receiving the payment remarries.  This is often given in lieu of a property settlement between the parties.

Remember that a knowledgeable divorce lawyer will be able to help you determine what will work best for your family. If you are in the process of divorcing and need help in determining whether alimony will be part of your case, contact our experienced family law and divorce attorneys in Naperville, Illinois for a free consultation of your case today.