Pennsylvania Alimony & Spousal Support Lawyers
When going through a divorce, there are important financial matters to consider that significantly impact the lives of both parties. It’s important to find a divorce attorney who can help you receive appropriate alimony, spousal support or equitable reimbursement. You want to hire an alimony attorney who understands your situation and who will work to achieve the best possible outcome for you and your family.
Protect Your Future
Divorce and the subsequent alimony or spousal support will have a lasting impact on your life. This is why at Colgan & Associates we fight for what’s in your best interest. We help our clients resolve their spousal support and other family law disputes through experienced and skilled negotiation or litigation. When your spousal support amounts are calculated we make sure your legal rights are protected. You can trust our family law attorneys to handle your matter with the utmost care and professionalism.
What is Alimony?
Alimony is a financial support designed to limit any unfair financial impacts of a divorce by providing a continuing income to a non-earning or low-earning spouse. While often used interchangeably, in Pennsylvania, alimony and spousal support are not exactly the same thing. Both involve financial support paid by one spouse to the other, but they have different purposes and may be awarded under different circumstances.
One justification for awarding alimony is that a spouse may have had to step away from their career to raise a family and re-entering the workforce may take time and additional education to achieve. Alternately, alimony may be awarded to allow a spouse to continue the standard of living they had during marriage that they may not be able to afford on their own.
Types of Alimony and Spousal Support
Alimony can be structured in a variety of different ways. Sometimes alimony is awarded by the court and sometimes alimony is awarded as part of an agreement reached between the divorcing spouses.
Post-divorce Alimony
Generally, alimony can be awarded to one spouse at the conclusion of the divorce, depending upon many factors, including the length of the marriage, the contribution each spouse made to the marriage, the earning potential of each spouse and more. The amount of alimony payments varies in each case and is not calculated according to a formula.
A rehabilitative alimony is a type of alimony that aims to provide financial support to a spouse for a specific period to help them become self-supporting or acquire the skills and education necessary for financial independence.
A permanent alimony is awarded if a partner has a long-term disability or has never gained employment for the duration of the marriage.
A lump sum alimony can be awareded instead of monthly payments or instead of property or other valuables that the couple has accumulated during their marriage.
Alimony Pendente Lite
APL is a type of spousal support that is ordered to be paid during the divorce proceedings to the recipient spouse. The Latin phrase pendente lite means “pending litigation.” This type of alimony is a temporary support and is subject to change upon finalization of the divorce. The amount of APL is based upon the earning and/or earning capacities of each of the parties.
Spousal Support
Is a form of support for a dependent spouse that is available while parties are separated and awaiting a final divorce decree. Spousal support is awarded if a couple is separated and one is unable to be self-sufficient during the separation. This will change if reconciliation or divorce occurs. The divorce and the amount of spousal support is based upon the earning and/or earning capacities of each of the parties.
Equitable Reimbursement Alimony
Is awarded if one spouse worked to put the other spouse through college or a work-related program which resulted in this spouse earning more money.
Contact a Pennsylvania Alimony Attorney – York, Harrisburg, Lancaster
If you or someone you know has questions related to divorce and spousal support issues, contact Colgan & Associates to speak to an experienced spousal support lawyer.
