Am I Entitled to Alimony?

You are entitled to alimony if you need support, and your spouse can pay it. A Court can order alimony for several reasons.   Alimony may be required to help a spouse earn more or get a job. Or it could be awarded to help a spouse return to school so they have a higher earning capacity. In Tennessee, a Court may order temporary, short-term, or long-term alimony.

Temporary alimony is granted during the divorce proceeding and before the final decree. Short-term alimony may be granted after the divorce. This typically occurs when the receiving party needs time to gain the necessary skills to obtain a higher earning capacity. Furthermore, extended or permanent alimony may be given to a spouse with significant needs. And is usually reserved for long-term marriages. Whether or not a spouse receives alimony depends upon the circumstances.

A few factors considered when determining if alimony will be paid include;

• age,
• mental condition,
• the physical condition of each spouse,
• the separate assets of each spouse,
• duration of the marriage,
• the extent to which each spouse has made tangible & intangible contributions to the marriage (i.e., being a homemaker),
• fault of each spouse as it pertains to the divorce

When a marriage has been shorter in duration, the Court tries to put you back in the position you were in before you married. So, even if you were in a short-term marriage, the Court can still weigh the factors. And determine it is appropriate to award alimony.

If you are filing for divorce or if you are wondering, “Am I entitled to alimony?” contact Angel Kane. She can be reached at Kane & Crowell Family Law Center, www.kane-law.com, or at (615) 784-4800. We handle cases in Wilson, Sumner, Trousdale, Macon, Smith, and Rutherford Counties. We are happy to put our experience to work for you.