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Spousal support—also known as alimony—can be difficult to understand. There is no clear method for predicting whether a judge will make an alimony award or how much it will be, but our firm could guide you through this process.
If you have questions about determining spousal support payments in South Jordan, call our compassionate alimony attorneys today for a consultation. At Carr | Woodall, our team could help you understand the system and make a case in court for a reasonable outcome with a secure financial future.
State law recognizes several types of spousal support, each intended to address different financial circumstances after a divorce. Understanding each type is an important part of how South Jordan spousal maintenance payments are determined.
Temporary alimony provides financial support while divorce proceedings are pending. It ensures that a lower-earning spouse has resources throughout the duration of the case, but it ends once the courts enter a final divorce decree.
Rehabilitative alimony is the most common form in Utah. It supports a spouse while they pursue education, training, or career opportunities to become financially independent. Courts typically limit its duration to the time needed to achieve self-sufficiency.
Reimbursement alimony is available when one spouse supported the other’s education, training, or career advancement during the marriage. It compensates the supportive spouse for their financial contributions.
Permanent alimony is rare but may occur in long-term marriages where a spouse cannot reasonably become self-supporting due to age, health, or disability. It continues indefinitely unless modified by the court.
There is no fixed formula for determining alimony payments in South Jordan like there is with child support. Instead of a formulaic approach, the courts examine each case individually. The judge will consider a number of factors before deciding whether alimony is appropriate in your case and, if so, what the payment amount should be. These factors include:
Additionally, the courts will examine the length of your marriage. An award of spousal support is more likely to occur the longer your marriage lasted. Our attorneys could help you identify the factors in your marriage that might impact a potential alimony award.
When a South Jordan judge sets the alimony amount in your divorce case, the order is considered final. However, there is still a way for the court to recalculate what is owed or terminate the payments entirely.
In general, the courts will not modify a spousal support order without a good reason. A material change in circumstances must occur for a judge to issue a modified order. Either party can seek modification, and the updated order could increase or decrease the payment amount.
If you are going through a divorce, alimony is often the only path you have to retain a semblance of your standard of living. However, the courts generally prefer this to be a limited arrangement until all parties are able to support themselves financially. If you are ready to discuss the factors in determining spousal support payments in South Jordan, contact our team at Carr | Woodall for a private consultation today.