Spousal Maintenance in New York
Long Island Spousal Maintenance Attorney Explains Court-Ordered Payments
After a
divorce, one spouse may be required to make monetary payments to the other spouse.
These payments - which are referred to as alimony, spousal maintenance,
or spousal support - were designed to ensure a person has the financial
resources he or she needs to maintain a standard of living based upon
the consideration of the standard of living established during the marriage.
How Does Alimony Work in New York?
According to New York State law, the courts can award spousal maintenance,
also known sometimes known as alimony or spousal support, to one spouse
following a divorce.This payment is paid from one spouse to the other.
and can be done all at once in a lump sum or paid out over a period of
time. The courts will decide the amount to be paid, based on what would
be necessary to support the spouse, and also on the circumstances that
were in place at the time of alimony proceeding.
What Are the Different Types of Spousal Maintenance Arrangements?
Depending on the type of arrangement, maintenance payments can be made
for a predetermined period of time or indefinitely. Maintenance payments
can also be paid in monthly installments or in one lump sum. There are
four main types of spousal support /maintenance arrangements in New York:
-
Permanent Maintenance
- Permanent maintenance is to be paid indefinitely because the spouse receiving
it will be unable to earn a sufficient income to maintain a reasonable
standard of living because of factors such as age, disability and/or lack
of education and job training. It can be modified based upon a change
of financial circumstances including the retirement of the paying spouse.
A terminating event can take place which can put an end to this spousal
maintenance such as remarriage of the payee spouse or death of either spouse.
-
Terminable Maintenance
- Terminable maintenance will end on a specific date after a determined number
of payments are made to the payee spouse.
-
Rehabilitative Maintenance
- Rehabilitative maintenance is only paid until the spouse receiving support
has been given a reasonable opportunity to obtain the skills or education
needed to become employed. This is common in divorce cases in which a
spouse stayed home from work to care for children. Once the spouse receiving
support is given the opportunity to become self-sufficient, the payments end.
-
Temporary Maintenance
- Temporary maintenance can be ordered during the pendency of the divorce
and one spouse will make payments until the divorce is complete and then
temporary maintenance will end and permanent maintenance will then be
addressed by the court.
How Is Maintenance (Alimony) Calculated in New York?
Unlike
child support, there is not a set formula for determining how much a person will pay
in maintenance. Therefore, spousal maintenance must be agreed upon between
the two parties in divorce through negotiation, or else it will be determined
by a judge through litigation. Some factors a judge will take into consideration include:
- The length of the marriage
- The standard of living the couple shared during the marriage
- Each spouse's current income
- Each spouse's vocational skills and his or her ability to earn an income
- Whether one spouse stayed home during the marriage to take care of children
- Each spouse's debts and assets
- The age of each spouse
- The physical and mental health of each spouse
- If either spouse has any special needs
- How marital property was divided
- Where the children live
- Tax consequences of the division of property
These are some of the common factors but there are countless others that
could play a role in the decision of spousal maintenance. Any other matter
that the court considers to be just and equitable can also affect the
maintenance order.
Need a Lawyer for Your Divorce Case in Long Island?
Determining spousal support can be a sensitive issue, but it's important
that an agreement can be reached that is fair to both parties. At
Samuelson Hause & Samuelson, LLP, an experienced Long Island divorce lawyer can provide you with dedicated
legal counsel to ensure you are not receiving or paying an unreasonable
amount in maintenance. We can review all aspects of your divorce,
how your marital property was divided, and the nature of your marriage to determine how much you should be paying
or receiving.
We have extensive experience in this area of divorce law and are committed
to using our resources and legal knowledge to help our clients resolve
their spousal support cases in a way that provides them with the financial
resources needed to maintain a lifestyle in consideration of the one they
had during marriage.
Recommended Reading
Contact our firm today to speak to a Long Island divorce attorney about alimony and learn
how we can help you assert your rights and protect your best interests.