Norfolk County Alimony Attorney

Resolving Difficult Family Law Cases for 15+ Years

Alimony, also known as spousal support, is money awarded from one spouse to another after the parties separate. Each state has its own unique laws regarding spousal support, so it is important to find a Norfolk County divorce lawyer who has extensive knowledge of Massachusetts’ alimony laws. At Angel Burke Law, we strongly advocate for our clients throughout every stage of the divorce process.

When Alimony Is Awarded

The length of the marriage, the age of their children, the income of each spouse and each spouse’s need are factors that play a significant role in determining whether alimony is awarded. When both spouses are employed in jobs with similar salaries, alimony payments may not be awarded or both spouses may decide not to seek spousal support.

How Alimony Is Determined

Determining whether alimony will be awarded and if so, for how long is not just a formula, it can be frustrating and it can require complex negotiation. In some cases, people are able to come to an agreement on their own, as long as the terms are fair to both parties and the agreement is filed with the court. Otherwise, the judge will hear arguments from both sides, consider the facts and make an order.

Some Factors Considered When Awarding Alimony include:

• The length of the marriage
• Age and health of the spouses
• The standard of living during marriage
• Each spouse’s contributions to the family
• The education and training of each spouse
• How the property is to be divided after divorce
• Each spouse’s need for support and ability to pay
• The respective income and financial positions of each spouse

The Types of Alimony

In Massachusetts, there are four different types of alimony which may be awarded. These types are transitional, reimbursement, rehabilitative, and general term alimony. Transitional alimony is either paid one time or regularly after a divorce to help the recipient spouse settle into a new location or lifestyle. Reimbursement alimony is paid one time or regularly after a divorce to make up for expenses which the recipient spouse incurred as a result of the marriage. This may occur if the recipient spouse helped the paying spouse complete job training or education. Rehabilitative alimony is regularly and temporarily paid to one spouse with the expectation that the recipient will be able to support themselves by a given time. Lastly, general term alimony is regularly paid to a spouse who was financially dependent on the paying spouse during the marriage. The amount of general term alimony is reliant on the length of the marriage. There are rules and time frames for each of these types and our Norfolk County alimony attorney is committed to helping you sort out the best plan to get the results you need.