Alimony Myths: Busted

Alimony Myths: Busted

Divorce rates within the United States are at around 40-50%, making this a more common circumstance than most people may believe. Clouded judgment from a divorce can make any situation worse, oftentimes not allowing for a civil discussion on the next move for both spouses. It can be easy to become overwhelmed with incorrect information, alimony myths, and other inaccuracies.

On the topic of alimony: a better understanding of alimony can help you ease your way out of a marriage, helping both parties start anew. Here are 4 alimony myths that will give you comfort and security ahead of your new future.

1. One Payment Fits All  

Myths make the payment of alimony seem set at a certain price and have no wiggle room. For the supporting spouse, different factors calculate into your alimony total.

It might be easy for you to get ahead of yourself and begin calculating your alimony online. These calculators often do not consider other factors, giving you a false sense of understanding regarding your total payments. Factors may include:

• standard of living established in a marriage
• sources of income from both parties
• age, physical and emotional condition

Estimates from online calculators can leave you frustrated and even more stressed out. It is best to stay away and consult with a law professional instead.

2. Alimony is Guaranteed

An Alimony myth such as this might be enough to keep any person from getting married and/or divorced. Every married person has the right to fight for alimony. It does not mean that they will always win in the end.

As explained above, there are many factors that go into figuring out the cost of alimony. Courts conduct specific checks to determine entitlement. These include:

• alimony
• property
• custody of children or pets
• other assets

3. You’ll Be Paying Alimony Forever

If the courts do decide to grant alimony to the dependent spouse, it is set for a specific amount of time. There are many different types of alimony that the courts can grant. You have:

• temporary
• rehabilitative
• bridge-the-gap
• durational

These are all set after a specific situation, time or goal occurs. Depending on the form of alimony, they can range anywhere from months to years.

Permanent alimony might sound scary, at first. Like any decision within our court system, it can also be overturned. During this process, new factors are considered, leading to permanent alimony being potentially canceled or adjusted for time or money.

4. Marriage Length Doesn’t Matter

A factor that is often at the top of any divorce court’s list in qualifying for alimony is the length of the marriage. Don’t be afraid to divorce your spouse based on the length of your marriage. Short marriages have a relatively low chance of spousal alimony. This keeps you protected from ex-spouses trying to claim something they might not have any right to.

The court system stands for justice and equality. Feel comfort in knowing that not everyone has a claim to alimony. Contact our firm today to speak with a professional alimony lawyer. We can reduce the stress of divorce by giving you the right information to get you on your way to living your new life and bust any alimony myths or misconceptions you might have.