What Factors Are Considered for Alimony Payments?

When you are going through a divorce, there are a lot of things that need to be figured out. You have to figure out who is getting custody of the children, who gets to keep the home, who takes over what debts, who gets the car(s), and who pays alimony and the amount of the alimony. These are all contentious topics that bring out strong emotions. When it comes to alimony payments, you will naturally want to pay the least while your ex-partner will want to get the most. To get an idea of what you may have to pay in alimony, you must know the factors that impact that decision. Here are some of the factors that courts look at when determining alimony payments:

• Length of the Marriage
• Occupation, and Among and Source of Income
• Federal Tax Consequences
• Standard of Living During Marriage
• The Estate Liabilities and Needs of Each of the Parties

These are only a small subset of the factors used in determining alimony payments. There is room for interpretation and discretion by both parties and the court. An alimony attorney can help guide you through the entire process. They can also help you provide solid reasoning why you should pay a lower alimony payment than your spouse may be asking for.