Alimony, commonly known as spousal support, constitutes regular payments that one spouse makes to the other for following their divorce. Alimony is not as common today as it used to be, however, there are circumstances in which support agreements are still handed down following the dissolution of a marriage. Under Oklahoma law, alimony payments may last for years, or be awarded for a temporary period of time. Usually, this is until the spouse receiving the payments can improve their financial situation. These payments, known in Oklahoma as “spousal maintenance,” may be doled out in increments, or awarded in one lump sum during divorce proceedings.
At The Bundren Law Firm, P.C., our Tulsa family law attorney is equipped to deal with a range of divorce matters, including alimony and beyond. Read on to learn more about what would typically qualify one spouse to receive alimony in a divorce, and contact Bundren Law Firm, P.C. for experienced representation today.
Scenarios in Which One Party Is More Likely to Receive Alimony Following a Divorce
- One Spouse Has Limited Education and Employment Experience: In divorce cases where one spouse has a college degree and significant work experience, while the other only has limited education and work experience, it may be possible to argue for support payments. The justification in this scenario is that the spouse with less education also has less earning potential, and therefore requires additional support. This may also apply for parents who were unable to work or earn a degree because they were raising a child during the course of a marriage. Usually, when this type of support payment is awarded, there is an understanding that it will only exist until the receiving spouse can re-enter the workforce or earn their degree.
- One Spouse is Older or Has Medical Problems: If you have a medical condition that requires treatment, the court may award you alimony payments for a given amount of time, usually until your condition improves. However, if you have ongoing health problems, or have reached an age where you will be unable to work full-time, the court may require your spouse to make alimony payments on a permanent basis.
- One Spouse Behaved Badly During the Course of the Marriage: Usually, the fact that one spouse had an affair is not enough to justify alimony payments in and of itself. However, if one spouse consistently behaved badly, frequently straying or acting abusively throughout the course of the marriage, it can be argued this affected the other spouse’s ability to better themselves by receiving a degree or seeking employment. In this scenario, the court may require the offending spouse to make alimony payments.
- The Marriage Was Long: Most states will award spousal support commensurate with the length of a marriage. Therefore, marriages that are very short do not usually result in alimony payments in the case of divorce. However, when two people enter into a divorce after being married for a long period of time—say, several decades or more—there is a greater chance that one spouse will have to pay alimony to the other. The longer the marriage is, the better chance one spouse also has of arguing that they have become accustomed to a certain lifestyle, and require long-term spousal support to help them maintain the same lifestyle they had during the marriage.
Call Now For Compassionate Family Law Representation
At Bundren Law Firm, P.C., we know how difficult divorce can be. That’s why our experienced Tulsa family lawyer is here to make the entire process as easy on you as possible. From alimony to child support to property division, our firm will always keep your best interests at heart, and work tirelessly to make sure you receive everything you deserve.
Stop letting your divorce get you down and start moving on with your life today. Just pick up the phone and dial (918) 992-3300 to speak to our skilled attorney, or contact us online to learn more about what Bundren Law Firm, P.C. can do for you.