Here are some frequently asked questions about alimony. Q: Is there a difference between alimony, spousal support, and maintenance? A: No. You may hear your attorney use these terms interchangeably because they are all different ways of describing the same legal concept. Although they can be used interchangeably, we will only use the term alimony for the sake of simplicity. Q: What is rehabilitative alimony? A: The most common purpose of alimony is to give one spouse, who [...]
No one wants to live with their ex, but deciding when, how, and whom to move out of the family home can be stressful and perplexing. Here are the key issues to consider. Can you afford to remain in the family home? If you or your spouse moved out, where would you go? Most likely, one of you will wind up renting an apartment or buying another home. Based on how much money you and your spouse have and how [...]
If you are seeking a divorce, the thoughts that loom largest are your reasons for ending your marriage. Depending on what shows you’ve watched, you may be expecting to state and prove each of these reasons. The truth is, however, you probably won’t have to do that. In most states, the court only needs to determine that the marriage is over to grant the divorce. However, you can raise these issues to show the court why it is [...]
Discovering that your spouse has been cheating can be a shocking revelation. If you've been cheated on, you might hope that a judge will set this injustice right. If you've been caught cheating, you may be wondering how it will impact your final divorce settlement. Here's what you need to know. How Judges View Adultery Remember, the judges handling divorce cases have heard countless stories about adultery. For better or worse, many judges have become desensitized to most of this—and [...]
Divorce is about division. The spouses are dividing one household into two. They are dividing their assets, time with their children, and their possessions. The first step is to take stock of what there is to divide. In most states, the starting point for your divorce is the "domestic relations financial affidavit" (DRFA). The DRFA is a sworn statement attesting to your household finances. This can include: Income Assets Debts Liabilities Monthly expenses Take your time to make for [...]