Alimony, otherwise known as spousal maintenance, can have a big impact on both the one paying it and the one receiving it. It can greatly affect their finances and is a major consideration in their financial planning. Without it, many more unhappy couples would likely remain married. Why? If one spouse has filled the “homemaker” role while the other has developed their career, the nonworking spouse would otherwise have no way to finance their life if they divorced. The spouse who spent all those years working and earning would have been unable to do so if the other spouse had not stepped up at home, giving them the freedom and ability to go off to work. Recognizing this, the courts have formulated methods to calculate spousal maintenance payments. If you are considering divorce but have questions about alimony, a DuPage County, IL divorce lawyer can help clear up some of the confusion.
How Do the Courts Decide if Alimony Is Necessary?
Under certain circumstances, the courts could very well decide that spousal maintenance is not necessary in a divorce. For example, if both spouses work and earn enough to finance their own homes and lives, the courts could decide that spousal maintenance is not appropriate. Courts in the State of Illinois consider several factors when deciding about alimony for a specific couple, including:
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Do either of the spouses own property? If one spouse works and the other owns rental properties that could serve as a source of income, alimony would likely be deemed inappropriate.
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