Most blogs focus on giving advice to men about paying alimony to their spouse. However, it is becoming more common for men to be the spouse that is seeking spousal support. If this is your situation, we are here to help.

Alimony, which is also commonly referred to as “spousal support” or “spousal maintenance” is often granted by the court during a divorce proceeding. The goal of the paymnet is to allow the spouse that needs the support to maintain a similar standard of living that was had during the marriage. Thus, if your wife made more money than you during the marriage, you may be entitled to receive support payments. An award of alimony can be temporary or permanent, depending on your unique situation. The court considers a variety of factors in calculating an alimony award including the length of the marriage and each spouse’s income. For more information, please click here.

If you are considering seeking spousal support payments in your divorce, you are likely to have more success if you have us negotiate the payments beforehand. As seasoned alimony attorneys, we often negotiate a better settlement than you will receive by letting the court make the decision.

It is also helpful if we create a strategy for your divorce that includes presenting reasonable offers and counteroffers before negotiations begin. In other words, we can help you make fair offers based upon your income and assets, as well as the expenses you will incur post-divorce. Having these numbers prepared can help ward off any unrealistic attempts to fight or lower the alimony amount by your spouse.

Finally, it is helpful if you set a reasonable amount of time that you will need to receive support payments. The applicable state law may set certain limitations, but if your spouse sees that you are trying to be fair, she may be less likely to fight you. Remember, the goal of alimony is to give you the support you need to get back on your feet after divorce. Negotiating a reasonable time period is better than going to court in the hopes of getting an award for longer and ending up with nothing.

Whether you are seeking to recover alimony or you are concerned that your spouse will be requesting it, let us help.

If you need assistance with your divorce, contact the Men’s Divorce Law Firm today. Our approach to family law is quite simple: we listen to you; we return your calls promptly; we keep you prepared and informed; we respect your time; we understand your concerns; and, most importantly, we care.