Frisco Divorce Lawyer

Alimony Basics

Divorces are complex social mechanisms that involve not only social relations but also legal relations as well. As a result, the law has certain requirements of people who get divorced. One such requirement is alimony.

Alimony is a simple concept. It is like child support, but for spouses. Thus, it consists of payment from one spouse to another spouse. It is intended to help the lower-income spouse with living expenses that child support does not meet. In general, divorce judges decide the size of alimony payments.

When judges decide the amount of alimony payments, they take a variety of factors into account. While these factors vary from one state to another, there are certain general factors. For example, the judge will attempt to discern what prospects both spouses have for earning in the future. And, they will consider the health and age of both spouses in relation to one another, as well as how long the spouses have been married. The longer one spouse has been economically dependent on the other spouse in the marriage, the more likely a judge is to grant alimony.

Lastly, it needs to be mentioned that even the spouse paying the alimony receives benefits. Specifically, anyone who pays alimony can deduct the alimony payments from her or his taxes (but anyone who receives alimony has to pay taxes on alimony).

Speak with a Frisco Family Attorney

Divorce can be an emotional process, especially for a spouse may not want to pay alimony. If you are going through a divorce, having an attorney represent you can help immensely. For more information, contact the Frisco divorce lawyers of Alexander & Associates by calling 972-420-6560.