The Purpose of Alimony

Divorce is never easy. Family law in Cedar Rapids, IA recognizes this. Some divorces pose the risk of complete overhaul of the involved party’s lives. This is especially true in cases where the parties have been married for a long time. There are marriages where lifestyle choices have led one party to become financially dependent on another. In these instances there is a risk that divorce will lead to undue distress for the dependent party. Family law has included several stopgaps to prevent these situations from harming the financially dependent party.

A spouse who has spent the duration of the marriage as a homemaker or minimally employed may not be prepared to support him or herself. He or she may be unqualified for work or may be unable to gain an income that will allow him or her to live within a reasonable range of a previous lifestyle. In these cases, special accommodations must be made to ensure that he or she is able to retain a quality of life. This is called alimony.

Family law designates alimony as a way of dealing with these inequalities in work and education. Alimony is awarded based on many factors, not limited to the duration of the marriage, the difference between the education of the two involved in the divorce and the likelihood of one party being able to find work following the divorce. Other factors can include the emotional state of the parties and how property was distributed at the time of the divorce. Family law includes alimony as a way of protecting vulnerable parties from undue financial distress.

If it is decided that one party will be unlikely to be able to support him or herself, especially in a way that threatens their ability to sustain a reasonable quality of life or affects taxes, than he or she will be awarded alimony based on need and the income of the other party. Family law designates alimony as separate from child support because the money is meant to preserve the household and wellbeing of the divorced party. It is awarded regardless of the presence of children and does not end when the children are emancipated.

An attorney well versed in family law can help one obtain alimony or, adversely, help one achieve a fair alimony rate. If one feels that the amount of alimony being asked for is too high a family law lawyer can be an invaluable resource in fighting for a fairer rate. Family law in Cedar Rapids, IA is designed to protect vulnerable parties, and a lawyer can help.