Spousal Support Attorneys In Pittsburgh 

Spousal support - or alimony - is a court-ordered financial payment from one spouse to another either during or after a divorce. In Pennsylvania, there are four types of alimony and spousal support: 

• Pre-divorce alimony: referred to as pendente lite, this form of temporary alimony is meant to help a spouse maintain their standard of living until the divorce process is completed
• Post-divorce alimony: this form of alimony is awarded by the discretion of the judge and can be awarded for a discrete period of time or indefinitely, depending on the circumstances
• Spousal support: in Pennsylvania, spousal support is typically awarded during separation rather than divorce and cannot overlap with a pendente lite award
• Equitable reimbursement: in some cases, a judge will award one spouse to reimburse the other for support that was provided during the marriage, such as supporting a spouse through a degree or training that increases their earning capacity

In order for a judge to order post-divorce alimony, they must consider certain criteria. This includes:

• Income and earning capacities of each spouse
• Age and health of each spouse
• Length of marriage
• Marital standard of living
• Separate property of each spouse
• Marital misconduct, such as adultery
• Tax consequences of alimony award

Typically, alimony will only be awarded for as long as it takes a supported spouse to become self-supporting, but in cases where this may not be possible, alimony can in certain situations be ordered indefinitely. Spousal support and alimony will also end if the supported spouse remarries, cohabitates, or if either spouse dies (unless otherwise agreed upon by both parties). 

Modifying in Pennsylvania?

It is possible for either spouse to request a modification of an alimony award unless the couple previously had a written agreement that the award could not be modified. In order to modify alimony, the requesting party must demonstrate that there are substantial and ongoing changes in circumstances since the award was ordered. It is also possible to negotiate a modification out of court and then submit it to the court for approval.

Because Pennsylvania judges have such wide discretion when it comes to alimony and spousal support awards and because - unlike with child support - there is no set standard or formula to calculate these payments, it is especially crucial that you hire an experienced spousal support attorney to help you navigate this process. It is usually to both parties' benefit to negotiate an agreement out of court, but our knowledgeable Pittsburgh divorce lawyers can help ensure that your interests whether you and your spouse are able to come to an agreement out of court or end up needing to argue before a judge.

At Taybron Law Firm, LLC our Pittsburgh spousal support attorneys are committed to providing high-quality legal representation throughout every phase of your spousal support proceedings. We strive to help you achieve your desired outcome by ensuring you have the knowledge you need about all available options as well as offering sound counsel every step of the way.