Will You Have to Pay Alimony?

One common reason why people hesitate to get divorced is that they are worried about their financial situation after the divorce is final. A common concern is that a spouse would be ordered to pay alimony after the divorce. Alimony is not the legal rule in every divorce. In fact, alimony could be the exception rather than the norm.

A court would look at a number of factors in deciding whether to order alimony. The main factor that would require further review is when the two spouses may have very different standards of living after the divorce because of their financial resources and earnings power.

If there is a large disparity in financial resources causing one spouse to have a drastically different standard of living, the court may then also look at the following:

●     The duration of the marriage

●     How the property is being divided between the two spouses

●     Whether there was any fault in the divorce

●     Whether a parent has the capacity to seek work because of their childcare situation

●     The physical and emotional condition of each spouse

●     Each spouse’s age at the time of the divorce

Even if you are ordered to pay alimony, it may not be forever. Permanent alimony is just one kind of payment that a South Carolina court would order. You may just need to pay alimony temporarily through the divorce or for a set period of time, while the other spouse gets back on their feet and builds their own earnings power.

Contact an Anderson Family Law Attorney Today

The attorneys at Bradley & Perkins provide you with quality legal representation in your divorce-related issues, including whether you would pay alimony. To schedule your initial consultation, you can send us a message online or call us at 864.401.8770.