Money is a big source of stress during divorce. The sudden shift from a dual-income household to supporting yourself can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, you may receive support even before your divorce clears the courts with temporary alimony.
In this blog, we explore whether accepting temporary alimony may impact your final settlement.
What is temporary alimony?
Temporary alimony can serve as a financial lifeline during divorce. It aims to help you meet your basic needs and maintain your current lifestyle while the divorce progresses. Either you or your spouse may request temporary alimony.
Remember, temporary alimony isn’t guaranteed. It depends on who needs the assistance and who can provide it. Moreover, this financial lifeline ends once your divorce trial is done.
The link between temporary and final alimony
Sadly, there is no link between temporary and final alimony. Even if you get temporary alimony, there is no guarantee that you’ll get the same amount for your post-divorce alimony settlement.
Temporary alimony doesn’t dictate how much you receive nor the type of alimony the court grants. At most, it may help show the court your financial situation and needs.
How the court makes alimony decisions
The court considers various factors when determining who gets alimony, the type and the amount to award. These include:
- Financial needs and resources: They look at both spouses’ financial situations.
- Health and condition: They look at both spouses’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being—particularly if one of you has a disability.
- Standard of living during the marriage: They aim to maintain this as much as possible.
- Duration of the marriage: Longer marriages might result in higher alimony.
- Each spouse’s contributions: This includes income, homemaking and childcare.
Courts may adjust the final alimony based on the circumstances or information that surfaces during the divorce trial.
Making smart choices for your financial future
Temporary alimony doesn’t serve as a basis for your post-divorce settlement. Working with an experienced family law attorney strengthens your position for both temporary and final alimony negotiations. Your lawyer can help you present a strong case for your financial future and advocate for your rights.
