It is not uncommon for one spouse to serve as the leading financial provider in a marriage. Thus, when a marriage ends, it is often necessary for said spouse to pay spousal support to their ex temporarily or permanently. This support is more commonly known as alimony.
Courts generally determine who should pay alimony, what type is appropriate given the circumstances, and how much alimony should be paid. However, courts are not infallible. Hire a Westlake Village alimony attorney at the Law Offices of Ronald K. Stitch to assist you in these matters and optimize your chances of arriving at a fair alimony agreement.
Types of Alimony in California
Alimony comes in a variety of forms. The following are the various types of alimony a court may order someone to pay:
- Temporary alimony: This type of alimony is paid while the divorce process is still ongoing. Once the divorce has been finalized, it will transition into a more long-term form, or alimony payments may stop entirely.
- Rehabilitative alimony: Rehabilitative alimony is usually temporary and helps one spouse transition to a more self-sustaining career or lifestyle.
- Permanent alimony: Courts are more likely to order one spouse to pay permanent alimony to another if the marriage lasted ten or more years. Permanent alimony is usually paid monthly. Despite its name, permanent alimony is only sometimes never-ending. It may stop when one spouse dies, or the spouse receiving alimony payments remarries.
- Lump-sum alimony: As the name implies, this alimony is an alternative to monthly alimony payments.
How a Westlake Village Alimony Attorney Helps
Courts will account for many factors when determining what type of alimony someone should pay and how much alimony constitutes a fair amount. Additionally, it may be possible to modify an existing alimony agreement if the circumstances of someone’s life change after their divorce. For example, if a spouse who was ordered to pay alimony to another loses their job and is unlikely to be able to find a new job offering a similar rate of pay in the foreseeable future, they could modify their existing alimony agreement so that they pay less than they have previously been ordered to pay.
These matters can be very complex. Thus, whether you are currently going through a divorce and are worried that you will be ordered to pay an unfair amount of alimony, you are concerned that your spouse will avoid paying the alimony that you deserve, or you are attempting to modify an existing alimony agreement, is very helpful to have professional assistance from a qualified Westlake Village alimony attorney.
Contact a Westlake Village Alimony Attorney Today
Divorce can be a very stressful experience. That said, there are steps you can take to ensure the process is manageable.
One such step is to enlist the help of a legal expert who can provide the representation you deserve. That is precisely what you will find at the Law Offices of Ronald K. Stitch. To learn more about what our Westlake Village alimony attorneys can do for you, contact us online or at (818) 707-0202 to schedule your free consultation.
