What Factors Decide If I Receive Alimony?

Alimony is a monthly payment that helps many single parents cover their bills after their Oklahoma divorce. When filing for alimony, many people wonder what helps determine their eligibility for alimony and how much they could receive. Knowing what things can take away alimony can also be helpful. This can help you increase your chances of obtaining and keeping alimony for as long as you need. If you have questions, talk to an Oklahoma family lawyer to learn more.

Factors That Play into Alimony

Family law judges will go by many factors when deciding whether you should receive alimony. When it comes to Oklahoma alimony laws, the judge will consider things like:

• You and your ex-spouse’s individual income
• Your financial status after the divorce
• The standard of living you had during the marriage
• How soon you can start earning income after the divorce
• Your physical health

Former and potential income are two main factors that help determine whether you need alimony or not. If the judge finds that you will be making enough money to support yourself after the divorce, you may not receive alimony. However, judges also look at physical health for a reason.

People with poor physical health and chronic health conditions like long-term disabilities may be considered for alimony. This is more likely when your health condition has a major impact on your finances and your resources are low. Overall, those with higher financial resources post-divorce are less likely to receive alimony.

When it comes to looking at the standard of living you had during the marriage, part of this means your financial standards. This also means how much comfort your combined income provided you and your children. The house you lived in and the property you owned will be considered. A judge may try to match this standard of living post-divorce with alimony.

Could Anything Take Away My Alimony?

Not everyone realizes that once they receive alimony, their alimony could be taken away. Certain types of alimony are also time-limited meaning they expire after a certain period of time. This could be several months or a limited number of years. Be sure to find out the details of your alimony arrangement.

Remarriage, spouse disagreement over alimony, and changes in circumstances could all remove your alimony payments. Many of these would only happen if your ex-spouse goes to court to modify alimony based on these changes. Your ex-spouse would need to prove the change in circumstances or why they can no longer pay alimony.

Consider contacting an Oklahoma City divorce lawyer to see what you can do to preserve your alimony payments. You might be able to keep your alimony a little longer.

Divorce Lawyer in Oklahoma City

Losing alimony might mean serious financial strain for you and your child. Feel free to ask an Oklahoma divorce attorney for help if this happened to you. Take the first step by calling the Putnam Law Office today at (405)-849-9149 for a consultation about your case. Our dedicated legal team can explore your legal options. Mr. Putnam is an experienced lawyer in Oklahoma City, OK who can help you defend your claim.