Will alimony be a part of your divorce? It depends. The court has broad discretion in determining alimony obligations, and your lawyer’s skill in presenting your case can make a significant difference in the outcome of the issue. What is fair and equitable often depends on the unique circumstances of your marriage. The best way to protect yourself is to work with someone who understands Massachusetts divorce law and who has experience in knowing what the likely outcome will be. I am Attorney Annette Baker. For two decades I have helped divorcing couples create a support plan that works. I can help you, too.

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Alimony Reform Law: How The Courts Determine Alimony

 

As complicated as the statute makes it sound, and despite the recent changes that have been enacted with the Alimony Reform Law, the main issue in an alimony contest will normally boil down to comparing one spouse’s claim of need to the other spouse’s ability to pay. A corporate executive can expect to pay a substantial amount of spousal support to a divorcing spouse who has never worked outside the home during a 25-year marriage. In a case where both spouses have professional careers with roughly equivalent present income and future earning potential, however, it is unlikely that either spouse will pay or receive spousal maintenance or alimony. The cases with the most room for argument will generally involve divorcing spouses and circumstances such as the following:

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• Both spouses have sufficient education to support a middle-class income or more, but one spouse has interrupted his or her career to serve as a full-time parent or homemaker

• The spouse seeking alimony has no earned income, but is an income beneficiary under a trust account, or expects a substantial inheritance soon

• The spouse defending against a claim for alimony is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed

 

When Spouses Disagree On The Amount Of Alimony

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If the divorcing spouses cannot agree as to whether or how much one spouse must pay to the other, the court will determine the question of alimony according to a fairly lengthy list of both mandatory and optional factors prescribed by statute. These factors range from the length of the marriage and the different incomes of the parties to the relative contribution of each in acquiring, preserving or increasing the value of the marital estate. More and more couples are seeking to live separate lives later in life. I understand the unique challenges, issues and even benefits “gray divorce” entails.

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Because the factors that a family law judge would consider in a contested alimony hearing are very similar to those to be considered in a property distribution dispute, it is common to negotiate alimony claims, amounts and durations together with equitable distribution issues, especially in cases involving complex asset division problems.

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Get Accessible, Proven Help With Alimony Issues

As an experienced attorney, I offer comprehensive advice and surefooted representation on any alimony or asset protection issues. Call (978) 922-2888 to learn how your situation can be resolved on favorable terms. You can also email me and I will respond within 24 hours.