Spousal Support

 Posted on May 07, 2013 in Family Law

When you are going through a divorce, one of the steps is to determine spousal support. Alimony, or spousal support, can be awarded to either spouse. How much will be owed and for how long the spousal support will be paid must be determined.

The court must decide all of this without consideration of any marital misconduct which may have taken place. Factors that are considered by the court to decide upon spousal support include:

• The duration of the marriage
• The standard of living during the marriage
• The needs of each spouse
• The current and future earning capabilities of each spouse
• Any impairment that may affect the earning abilities of the spouse that is seeking maintenance
• Any lack of education, training, career opportunities or employment that the spouse seeking support may have due to that spouse having spent his or her time on domestic duties during the time of the marriage
• The age and emotional and physical conditions of each spouse
• The time that it will take the support-seeking spouse to reach the appropriate amount of training, education or employment necessary, and if that spouse is able to support him or herself with the appropriate employment
• Whether or not being the custodian of the child or children of the marriage affects the spouse seeking maintenance from gaining employment to support him or herself
• Contributions that the maintenance-seeking spouse may have made to the training, career, education or career potential of the other spouse
• The income and property of each spouse
• Valid agreements previously made between the spouses
• Any additional factors that the court decides are valid in the spousal maintenance decision

If you are going through a divorce and are seeking spousal support or your ex is seeking support from you, contact a divorce attorney for assistance today. Attorneys in Lombard, Bloomingdale, and Naperville, Illinois at Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices can help you with your case today.