Determining your alimony in a divorce case can be the biggest source of conflict. Alimony, which may also be referred to as “spousal support”, allows you to receive financial support in order to meet your needs.
Spouses who didn’t work during the marriage or who earn significantly less than their partners are vulnerable to financial setbacks during and after the divorce process.
In addition to the loss of additional income from a spouse, the lack of employable skills and legal costs related to the divorce can impact your long-term wellbeing.
Your standard of living during the marriage is one of the factors used by the courts to determine how much alimony (if any) will be granted to you.
The Importance of Your Standard of Living in Divorce
In addition to the standard of living established during your marriage, the courts evaluate the length of the marriage, the financial status of each spouse, the contributions made to the marriage by both parties along with their health and age.
Future employability and skills are also considered along with the time that may be required to obtain job skills and existing financial liabilities.
Your standard of living is essential to your personal and professional wellbeing. It impacts your quality of life, your ability to support the development of a child, and your long-term financial security.
Your family law attorney can help you demonstrate the need to maintain your standard of living during your divorce case. This may be a crucial step in obtaining the spousal support you need.
Alimony in Georgia Family Law
Georgia family law allows alimony to be granted to either spouse depending on their needs and the ability of the other person to provide financial support.
The standard of living established during the marriage must be one that would have existed had the couple remained married. It includes the luxuries and social standing that the spouses received during the duration of the marriage.
Regardless of whether or not the filing spouse earned a comparable income, the lifestyle afforded by the higher income is still taken into account when determining alimony.
Determining Your Standard of Living
The standard of living established during a marriage consists of a wide range of lifestyle aspects to be considered.
In addition to material possessions, the area in which you lived and the activities in which you participated can all indicate the standard of living of the marriage.
Travel vacations, memberships to country clubs, and other amenities may also be included when establishing a case for your alimony.
The presence of minor children influences the need to maintain the standard of living that you had during your marriage.
Maintaining your financial status helps you provide the resources needed to raise your child and meet their personal, educational, and health needs.
In some cases, the standard of living was made possible due to the combined incomes of both parties. This makes it almost impossible to maintain that standard after a divorce.
Your attorney will help you determine the best options for your case so that you obtain the spousal support you need and deserve.
Gathering and submitting the right evidence is the key to obtaining a positive outcome in your divorce case. Information related to income and other sources of funds must be presented to the courts.
Spending history, recurring and nonrecurring expenses, and future needs should all be presented in your case.
Consulting with a skilled attorney provides you with the resources you need to secure your financial future. Bank statements, tax records, credit reports, and other financial data are critical to establishing your standard of living.
Understanding the laws related to alimony and making your way through the complex legal process gives you the financial support you and your family need.