If you are going through a divorce in California, make sure that you think about your future financial situation. A divorce can have the potential to negatively impact a person’s finances. This is because divorce itself is costly, and because the person will no longer have their former spouse’s income to depend on.
This is why alimony, otherwise known as spousal support, is often awarded. Alimony orders direct one spouse to pay the other spouse an income for a certain amount of time. If you want to gain alimony, take the time to understand how California laws apply to your individual situation.
The types of alimony in California
In the majority of cases, temporary alimony will be awarded. This is intended to minimize the financial disruption after a divorce. In rare cases, permanent alimony will be awarded. Meaning that one spouse will be entitled to an income for the rest of their life or until they remarry. Sometimes a lump-sum alimony will be ordered, particularly if a property settlement is not agreed upon.
What factors are considered by the courts when deciding on alimony?
The courts will consider a broad range of factors when deciding on alimony orders. These will include the earning possibilities for each spouse, the standard of living during the marriage, the length of the marriage, and the age, physical condition, and financial condition of each spouse.
If you are currently going through a divorce in California, it is important that you explore your options for gaining alimony so that you can support yourself in the years to come.