Pennsylvania Alimony Lawyer
If you are considering ending your marriage but you are worried about what will happen if you need or will be required to pay financial support, reach out to an alimony attorney in PA for assistance.
Whether you believe you will be taken advantage of by a money-hungry spouse or are financially dependent on your spouse, the question of alimony is a regular point of contention when a marriage dissolves. You can do your part to ensure that your divorce goes as smoothly as possible by working with a Pennsylvania alimony lawyer.
At Lisa Marie Vari & Associates, P.C., we are committed to helping clients in all family law matters. When it comes to divorce, one party may be compelled to pay alimony to the other if the lesser-earning spouse requires financial assistance. Your attorney will be prepared to negotiate with your soon-to-be former spouse so you are not exploited during this tumultuous time in your life.
Types of Financial Support and How Amounts Are Calculated
There is no guarantee that one spouse will be entitled to alimony when your marriage dissolves, but in most cases, the higher-earning spouse will be ordered to provide monthly payments to the lesser-earning spouse for a predetermined period of time.
In fact, before you even officially file for divorce, a spousal support order can be implemented that will allow the spouse who earns less to obtain financial support from the time that you and your spouse become separated to the date that your PA divorce complaint is filed.
Once your divorce complaint has been filed, alimony pendente lite (APL) may be ordered, which will extend support payments for the duration of your divorce proceedings. Only once your divorce has been finalized will alimony be ordered, and that is only if the judge finds that the requirements for such an award are necessary, as described below.
Factors That Determine a Spousal Support Award
The courts will take several factors into consideration when determining how much alimony, spousal support, and/or APL should be paid. Some of the most common points include:
- How long you were married
- Both spouses’ income and living expenses
- Whether a child support order exists
- If one spouse helped the other to achieve their earning capacity
- Mental and physical health of both parties
These are just a few of the factors that can come into play when figuring out how much alimony will be ordered in Pennsylvania. As can be seen, without the right legal representation, you could find yourself being taken to the cleaners by your spouse, particularly if your divorce has been a messy one.
Talk with an Alimony Attorney in Pennsylvania
The dissolution of your marriage is already a challenge. If you can work through your divorce with as little futility as possible, you should, and a Pennsylvania alimony lawyer at Lisa Marie Vari & Associates, P.C. can help.
We will work to ensure that you are awarded an amount that meets your needs if you are seeking spousal support, and we’ll do whatever’s possible to prevent you from overpaying if you will be obligated to pay alimony.
In either case, you can further discuss the details of your impending divorce when you schedule your initial consultation. This can be done by filling out the online contact form we included below or by calling our office at 1-844-VARI-LAW (827-4529).