When the end has come for your marriage

The Different Types of Alimony That You Could Receive

The end of a marriage can be a painful time for some couples. This process can be significantly more difficult if one spouse does not have the ability to support himself or herself once the separation occurs. This is why courts allow for the providing of alimony both during as well as after the divorce proceedings. Nevertheless, some people may not be aware that they are entitled to receiving spousal support from their former partner if this partner was the primary breadwinner. As such, it is essential to hire a family lawyer who can represent you during the divorce proceedings. Below are some of the different types of alimony that you could receive.

Permanent spousal support

When it comes to spousal support, this is the most common type of alimony that people will have in mind. Permanent alimony refers to the amount of money that a spouse is entitled to once the divorce proceedings have been wrapped up. Permanent alimony payments are paid out on a scheduled basis, hence they are a recurring payment for the rest of your life. However, there are special circumstances that could lead to the change of terms or the annulment of the permanent alimony such as if you remarry or if you start to cohabit with another partner.

Pendente Lite spousal support

This type of spousal support is commonly referred to as temporary alimony. It is an ongoing payment that a spouse receives during the separation as well as divorce proceedings. The pendente lite can encompass additional payments such as the costs of the divorce proceedings, day-to-day living expenses and more. This spousal support will continue up to the point that the court determines what the final alimony payments will be once the divorce is concluded.

Rehabilitative spousal support

This type of alimony is ordered by the court if a spouse can prove that they are by no means self-sufficient. As such, the financially independent spouse will be ordered to provide spousal support for a specific period of time as the other spouse looks for a job or enhances their employment skills to better their chances a becoming self-sufficient—for example, by enrolling in school.

Reimbursement spousal support

In some divorce cases, you may find that one spouse originally financially supported the other as they sought higher education, attended work training and more. If this is the case, you are entitled to be reimbursed the money that you invested in your spouse as a means of balancing the scales once you dissolve the marriage.


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