You might have heard that people sometimes have to pay their spouse's spousal maintenance payments after a divorce. If you are planning on getting divorced soon or are in the middle of a divorce right now, then you could be wondering about getting spousal maintenance yourself. These are some of the top things that you will probably want to know about receiving spousal maintenance after your divorce.
You Should Hire A Good Divorce Lawyer
If you are getting a divorce, there is a good chance that you have already found and hired a good divorce lawyer. If you haven't, then this is something that you are probably going to want to do as soon as you can. For one thing, it can sometimes be a bit challenging to be awarded spousal maintenance, and you might find that you will have more luck in doing so if you hire a good divorce lawyer. Plus, your divorce lawyer can help you with other things related to your divorce, too. For example, they can help you with ensuring that you get your fair share of the marital assets and property, they can help you with child custody and child support matters and more.
Not Everyone Qualifies
Do not assume that spousal maintenance is paid in every divorce, because this simply is not the case. Not everyone qualifies for spousal maintenance. Typically, spousal maintenance is granted when one spouse does not have the financial means to provide for themselves outside of their marriage. It's also only granted if the other spouse has the financial means to pay spousal maintenance payments. Talking to your lawyer about your financial situation, as well as your spouse's financial situation, is a good idea. Then, your lawyer can help you determine whether or not you have a good chance of being awarded spousal maintenance payments.
Spousal Maintenance Can Be Paid In A Few Different Ways
Typically, spousal maintenance is paid in the form of monthly payments from one spouse to the other. However, this is not the only way that it's paid. In some cases, it's paid as a lump sum when the marital property is being divided. Alternatively, your spouse could be required to pay the monthly mortgage and utility payments, even after moving out of the marital home. Every situation is different, but your divorce lawyer can help you determine the best form of spousal maintenance for you to ask for in your divorce.
Reach out to a firm such as Peter J Griffin & Co to find out more.
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