Philadelphia Spousal Support Lawyer

Am I eligible for spousal support?

Going through a divorce can be a stressful time for anyone, especially a spouse who is wondering how to move on and make a new life. If a wife has spent years staying at home caring for children and tending to a household, she may be unprepared for new circumstances. Sometimes a judge will award one spouse to support another in such an instance, this is known as spousal support or alimony.

The difference between the two terms is mostly in reference to when it is ordered by the courts. If a judge orders one partner to provide financial assistance to the other while in the midst of a divorce, it is known as spousal support. Once the divorce is final, these payments then become alimony, though some people use both terms interchangeably. If you are going through a divorce and would like to know if you can request financial help, or if you are the one who may be asked to provide such assistance, it is time to speak with a Philadelphia divorce attorney and learn about your rights.

Questions about Spousal Support or Alimony

When going through a divorce, one of the most important discussions is often about money. Perhaps you are looking at your assets and wondering how you can protect them, or maybe you are contemplating how you will be able to continue living your life in the way which you have become accustomed.

There are various types of spousal support, including:

• Rehabilitative - given to one spouse to help raise financial or educational levels and become independent, such as for job training or other education.
• Reimbursement - generally awarded to the spouse who supported the other during a time of education, usually only equal in amount to the cost of the assistance at that time
• Permanent - an amount paid over a certain period of time until a terminating factor occurs, such as remarriage or death.
• Limited duration - an amount paid over a pre-set period of time, most often dependent on unusual or uncommon circumstances.

Whether you want to know if you are eligible to receive spousal support or contemplating it, or you will be asked to provide it to your ex-partner, it is important that you retain the services of a qualified lawyer to help you with any questions you may have.

Contact a Philadelphia spousal support lawyer right away if you are in the midst of a divorce and want to know more about alimony.