If you are facing a Virginia divorce, you may have a number of questions concerning your financial security. Spousal support, or alimony, may be a subject of interest, especially if you are a stay-at-home mom.
There are 2 main reasons for alimony to be awarded. One is to make up for the lack of financial resources available to a spouse. The other reason is to compensate a spouse for their contribution to the home or to help advance their career.
Spousal support is not something every woman is interested in, since a divorce is viewed by many as an opportunity for a clean break. Some women feel uncomfortable accepting money from an ex-spouse and do not want money to exist as a continuing issue.
If you were a stay-at-home mom, spousal support can really help you make that fresh start you need and give you the compensation you already earned by putting your career on hold to raise your children.
There are a number of factors that are taken into consideration when determining eligibility for Virginia spousal support, how much support, and how long the support will continue. Spousal support can also be awarded in different ways.
Some of the considerations that a court will make in deciding on spousal support may include:
- Length of marriage
- Arrangements made in marriage
- Lifestyle that you lived as a couple
- How much education each spouse had at the time of divorce
- If the stay-at-home mom is able to immediately enter the workforce, or needs time to get an education and/or establish a career
Spousal support can be a complicated issue in Virginia divorce law and requires the help of an experienced Virginia divorce attorney.
There is more information about financial security after divorce in our article library.
Our Virginia divorce attorneys care about your rights, the welfare and happiness of your children, and your financial security. Let us use our unique experience and legal expertise to help you focus on your goals for your future and your family. Contact us today at (757) 425-5200 for more information about our monthly seminars, or to schedule a one-hour legal consultation with one of our Virginia women’s divorce attorneys.