Common Problems That Can Arise from Alimony

Alimony, also called spousal support, is a legal agreement that one spouse will pay the other a certain amount of money for a certain period of time. Payments tend to happen monthly and are usually ordered for spouses who will not be well-off financially after the divorce. In some instances, one partner may lie in order for the other to have to pay spousal support. In other cases, one partner may fail to pay spousal support on time. In either situation, it is a good idea to consult with an Oklahoma City divorce lawyer for guidance.

Results of Alimony Disagreements

Disagreements are often the cause of many legal troubles and lawsuits when it comes to going through or thinking about a divorce. If one marriage partner does not want a divorce, a court can still order alimony, but in a different form. This form is called separate maintenance and is only used when a spouse with money refuses to support the other spouse financially. Separate maintenance tends to be applied in situations where each spouse has decided to live apart from each other or have obtained a legal separation.

When it comes to divorce itself, things can become complicated. The decision to seek alimony must be done before the divorce proceeding ends. There are no last-minute requests after a divorce is finalized in court. If your spouse does not want to pay alimony, the judge and court will make the final decision.

Various factors will be examined in court to determine whether you need alimony, like your income, employment status, marriage length, and reasons for the divorce. For example, physical abuse may warrant an alimony order.

When Can Alimony be Changed?

Many people think that once an alimony order is given that this order cannot be changed. However, this is not always the case as long as certain conditions are met.

To change an alimony order, you will need to prove that your circumstances have changed significantly since the divorce. For example, if the spouse who was being paid suddenly started a new job and no longer needs the same amount of spousal support, then the alimony order can be changed. There are also situations when the person paying support has lost their job and can no longer afford monthly payments.

Some spouses may act in bad faith by making no attempts to find a job or fix their financial situation. One purpose of alimony is to help a divorced person recover financially so they can come to support themselves again. When a spouse refuses to do this, you may be able to have the court change the alimony order.

Family Attorney in Oklahoma

Disagreements during divorce can place extra strain on each spouse in addition to trying to figure out their financial situations. Dealing with alimony concerns on top of this can become overwhelming and confusing for almost anyone. Talk to an Oklahoma Family Lawyer about your situation and they may be able to help you save time and money. Contact the Putnam Law Office at (405)-849-9149 for a consultation today. Mr. Putnam is an Oklahoma City, OK attorney who puts clients first.