One of the most difficult issues to settle during a divorce is determining whether alimony—also known as spousal support payments—should be made, how long they should last, and how much they should amount to. After obtaining information about your marriage, your lawyer and the court will determine a fair amount for alimony.
When you complete forms pertaining to your marital situation, assets, property, debts, children, and income, that information will be used to decide whether alimony should be ordered and which type is best for your situation.
Different Types of Alimony in California
There are many different types of alimony in California, and which type will be ordered in your case—if at all—will depend on the specifics of your marriage.
For example, if you were married for a very short time, the court might only award you rehabilitative alimony, which allows you time to find a job and support yourself. At that point, the alimony would be discontinued.
Other situations might require permanent alimony. For example, if a couple had been married for thirty years, and one of the spouses never worked because he or she was a stay-at-home parent and homemaker, the court might order that alimony be paid to her for life.
Every case is unique as every marriage and financial situation is unique. Your lawyer can go over alimony in more detail, but below you’ll find some information on each type of alimony in California:
- Temporary Alimony – This alimony type is paid from one spouse to the other during the time period in which they have filed for divorce, but it has yet to be finalized.
- Rehabilitative Alimony – This alimony type is paid to one spouse until he or she has found a job and is able to be self-supportive.
- Permanent Alimony – Permanent alimony is paid from one spouse to the other until one spouse dies, or the payee spouse is remarried.
- Reimbursement Alimony – This type of alimony is intended to reimburse a spouse that paid for something of great value right before the marriage ended. For example, a wife paid for her husband’s tuition while he received a degree, and then he divorced her after graduation.
The court can order him to reimburse her for the tuition. The longer the marriage lasted following the spouse receiving that degree, the less likely the court will order reimbursement to be issued.
- Lump-Sum Alimony – This alimony can be ordered in lieu of a property settlement or monthly spousal support payments.
Consult a California Alimony Lawyer
Going through a divorce can be difficult, emotionally and logistically. If you’re struggling to get the fair spousal support payments you deserve, an experienced alimony attorney in California can be invaluable.
To reach an alimony lawyer, contact the Law Office of Laurence J. Brock via the online form below. You can also call the office directly by dialing 909-466-7661.
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