How is the amount of alimony determined?

On Behalf of | Feb 23, 2020 | Firm News |

Divorcing Mississippi couples may need to handle alimony matters. Also known as spousal support, alimony is a payment made from one person to another. This payment helps the recipient stay afloat. It allows them to maintain their former standard of living when single. 

Many factors go into determining the amount of alimony one spouse will pay to another. The court will look at more than the amount of money one spouse makes compared to the other. Though courts consider this, it is not the only factor. 

For example, courts will look at your age, emotional state and physical condition. They examine this to see if you are able to return to work. They also look at the length of time you may need to train or get an education. Ultimately, they are looking to see if you can become self-sufficient. They then look to see how long this might take you. 

Courts will also look at how long you two were together. Couples that have been together for a longer period of time tend to have higher alimony payments. This is because the spouse needing support has less time to become self-sufficient. They may have relied on a spouse for decades and it can be hard to move past that. Of course, they examine the old standard of living. Finally, the court examines the financial abilities of the payer. 

If you want to read more about spousal support, click here. It will take you to our link on alimony. You can learn more about how courts decide on spousal support payment amounts. You can also read about things like support modification requests. You can even learn what will happen to those who do not pay alimony.