Your divorce has the potential to negatively impact your financial stability for years to come. The process itself can be costly, and you could be facing a future with reduced income. If you earned significantly less than your spouse over the course of your marriage, you may have a rightful claim to spousal support. This type of financial support should either temporarily or permanently offset any economic inequity brought about by the divorce.
The amount of spousal support you could receive depends on factors that are unique to your situation. It may be helpful for you to understand what these things are in order to ensure you receive the full amount you deserve. Whether in negotiations or in a West Virginia family court, you have the right to fight for what you need for future stability after your divorce.
What factors could affect your future?
There are specific factors a court will take into consideration when addressing the issue of spousal support, and these matters could be a critical component in negotiations as well. The factors that could affect future financial support include:
- The length of your marriage
- Your job during the marriage or whether you worked outside of the home
- Whether you gave up your career to support your kids and spouse
- The ability of the other spouse to financially support you
- Your ability to find additional or new employment
- Whether you will need to go to school in order to return to work
- Your emotional and physical health
Courts typically have a broad amount of discretion when deciding whether to grant spousal support or the amount of the payments. When addressing the matter of alimony, it is beneficial to keep your focus on what will truly be best for your future. Emotionally driven decisions based on temporary feelings will likely lead to decisions that will not make sense long-term.
Your financial stability
You may be able to secure spousal support payments on either a temporary or permanent basis, depending on your ability to work and other factors. It will be helpful to understand your rights as you go into court or enter negotiations so that you will be in the best position possible to advocate for your future financial stability at every step.
