Besides the heavy emotional strain and stress that can be caused by a California divorce, one of the largest and most impactful issues that divorce may have on both parties-is alimony. Alimony, a term that is interchangeable with spousal support, is an agreed upon sum of money that the more fully financially established spouse pays to the other after the couple is divorced. It is a very serious issue that may end up being the largest financial obligation the supporting spouse may incur as part of the divorce. If not handled properly, alimony can last for decades and end up costing the supporting spouse hundreds of thousands of dollars.
What Factors Determine the Amount of Alimony?
While there isn’t a simple formula used to determine the amount of alimony that will be paid, there are some standard factors that are taken into consideration when coming to a conclusion on an end figure. For instance, the courts will look at:
- The salary of both spouses
- The earning potential of the supported spouse
- The effect finding employment will have on the upbringing of the children
- The age and health of both parties
- Other factors the court determines are just and equitable
Get an Idea of What the Spousal Support Payments will be
While neither the supported, nor the supporting spouse will be able to accurately predict the amount of support that will be paid or provided because of the above factors, our spousal support calculator is able to give a good estimation on what to expect. If children and child support will be involved in the divorce, the calculator can estimate child support payments or spousal support and child support as well.
Click here to go to the child and spousal support calculator
An Experienced Attorney Will Save the Supporting Spouse Money
It is a common misconception that all divorce scenarios involve alimony payments. In actuality, only about 10-15% of divorce cases involve spousal support. Because of the possibility of this being a major financial burden, it is extremely important to have an attorney that is equipped with knowledge and experience at handling cases that involve spousal support payments. Not having the right attorney could be detrimental to the case.