When a Kentucky couple chooses to sever marital ties, the decision is usually just the beginning of a court process that is often lengthy and complex. When children are involved, many decisions and plans need to be made regarding their future care and financial provisions. Some spouses, as well, are unable to make ends meet on their own after divorce, especially if they placed their careers on hold to stay home and raise families during marriage. This is why the court sometimes determines alimony appropriate in a particular divorce situation.
It's not as simple as one spouse telling the court he or she needs financial assistance from the other spouse. While state laws vary, there are general guidelines and factors of consideration in place to help the court make its decisions. Many people turn to experienced family law attorneys to help them determine the ins and outs of the law when it comes to alimony.
An attorney can clarify the legal particulars of spousal support. There are also several basic questions a spouse can ask to get an overall picture as to whether he or she is eligible to receive post-divorce financial assistance from a former spouse. Such questions include information regarding length of marriage, current state of employment, education background and health condition.
The court may also want to know whether a spouse can maintain the same standard of living as he or she enjoyed during the marriage while making alimony payments at the same time. Alimony is typically meant to be temporary until the person receiving it is able to gain a financial foothold on his or her own after divorce. A Kentucky family law attorney can help determine what might be the best approach in a given situation to convince the court of a particular financial need.