If you are going through a divorce, you will notice just how much of an impact it has on your finances. If you served a supportive role in your marriage, your sacrifices to your spouse may mean fewer job prospects for you after the divorce. Ask your Park Ridge divorce attorney if you’re eligible for alimony.
What Is Alimony?
Alimony is the monthly payment one spouse pays to another after a divorce to fairly divide income after separation.
Courts may order a spouse to pay alimony for a predetermined amount of time or until the recipient remarries.
What Determined Alimony?
There are a lot of factors that will go into the court’s decision to award alimony or not. The first thing that the court will take into consideration is the amount of money each party earns each year. In many cases, one spouse will stay home to care for the family while the other spouse pursues professional aspirations. When the couple separates, the spouse who worked will be further in their career and able to make more money, due to the support of the other spouse.
Additionally, the court will consider how long you and your spouse were together. In Illinois, a short-term marriage is five years or less. If you were in a short-term marriage, you have a much less chance of getting alimony.
Finally, the court will look into any prenuptial agreements signed before the marriage and use that to guide them when it comes to ordering alimony.
If you need a Park Ridge divorce attorney, schedule a consultation with Gordon & Perlut, LLC.
