During a divorce, you and your spouse will need to divide your marital property and arrange custody agreements and child support if you have young children. In some cases, one of you may also need to pay alimony to the other.
If you are considering a divorce in Illinois, here is what you need you to need to know about these payments.
What is alimony?
Alimony, sometimes called spousal support or maintenance, is payments made by one spouse to the other to allow the recipient to maintain a certain standard of living following a divorce.
Many factors will affect whether you will either pay or receive support, including the length of the marriage, your individual incomes and your unique financial needs. Courts may not award spousal maintenance if you are both self-supporting.
How are the amount and duration of payments determined?
Illinois courts have guidelines to help determine how much you or your spouse should pay and for how long. These guidelines consider the number of years of marriage and your income. However, judges may consider other factors when determining the duration of the payments.
Either you or your spouse may also be eligible for temporary alimony during the divorce proceedings, particularly if you have chosen to live separately.
Unless you agree to a non-modifiable agreement, the payor’s obligation will end when the payee remarries, lives with a new partner or dies. If you have a significant change in financial circumstances, you may have options to modify your maintenance agreement.