(801) 254-9450 Spousal support—also called alimony or spousal maintenance—is a type of court-ordered payment made by one former spouse to another. This obligation exists to ensure both parties have the means to maintain their standard of living and have a path to self-sufficiency after divorce.
Whether you are likely to be paying or receiving alimony, a Midway spousal support lawyer could help. At Carr | Woodall, our compassionate family attorneys are ready to guide you through the process.
Utah law recognizes several types of alimony, each designed to address different circumstances during or after a divorce.
The court can award temporary alimony during ongoing divorce proceedings. Its purpose is to provide financial support during the legal process so one spouse does not lack resources while the court determines a final arrangement. This support ends once the court finalizes the divorce.
Rehabilitative alimony is the most common form. It helps a spouse become self-sufficient after divorce, often by supporting them while they pursue education, job training, or career development. Courts typically limit rehabilitative spousal support to the time reasonably necessary for the spouse to achieve independence.
Reimbursement alimony applies when one spouse contributed significantly to the other’s education or career advancement, such as paying tuition or covering household expenses while the other pursued professional training. This type of spousal support compensates the supporting spouse for those contributions.
Although rare, a court may award permanent spousal maintenance in long-term marriages where a spouse cannot realistically become self-supporting due to age, health, or disability. These payments continue indefinitely unless modified by the court.
Let one of our experienced Midway lawyers help you determine which alimony options best suit your situation.
There are several factors the courts will consider when determining whether spousal maintenance is necessary. This process is very different from child support obligations, as the state does not use a formula to estimate fair alimony payments. Instead, the law tasks judges to consider all the relevant factors before determining whether it is necessary.
One of the primary considerations is the length of the marriage. The longer two people are married, the more likely the courts are to award spousal support. Beyond sage and health, as mentioned before, some of the other considerations they take into account include:
If you work with our Midway attorneys, we could advocate for a fair spousal support award based on the specific factors in your divorce case.
Usually, the courts will not alter an existing spousal support order unless a judge determines there has been a significant material change in circumstances. For example, the paying spouse might request a reduction in their obligation following a long-term loss of income. Either party has the right to file a motion to modify with the court for an increase or decrease of the current amount.
Other factors and situations where a judge may agree to a modification include:
If you and your ex-spouse agree to modify the terms, a lawyer from our legal team in Midway could advise you on whether an alimony modification might be possible for you.
If you are curious about your legal options regarding alimony, now is a good time to discuss them with a Midway spousal support lawyer from our firm. We could help you ensure your case is fair, whether you are paying maintenance or receiving it. Contact Carr | Woodall today to schedule your private consultation.