How Long Will You Have to Pay Alimony?

Alabama Alimony Process

If you are going through a divorce in Alabama, there is a possibility that you will have to pay alimony. There is no requirement that a marriage must have lasted a particular length of time before the Court can order one spouse to pay alimony to the other. However, the length of the marriage is one factor that must be considered by the Court when the judge decides the issue of alimony should your case have to be tried before a Judge.

Our Legislature passed two new statutory sections relative to the issue of alimony, which impact any divorce filed after January 1, 2018. Those new sections dictate the payment of interim alimony, attorney’s fees, and other litigation expenses while a divorce case is ongoing and the payment of rehabilitative or periodic alimony following a divorce being final.

Factors That Affect Alimony in Alabama

There are several factors that go into the determination of an alimony award. Just a few of those factors include the length of the marriage, each spouse’s current income, the age and health of each of the parties, each party’s fault in the breakdown of the marriage, any bad behavior by one party while the case is pending, each party’s access to money or assets and each party’s debts or other liabilities following the divorce, the future employment prospects of both parties, and the standard of living enjoyed by the parties during the marriage among other factors. Unless you and your spouse are in agreement about the alimony issue in your divorce, it will be important that you have an attorney to assist you in the courtroom to protect your interests relative to the payment of alimony.

Contact New Beginnings Family Law Today

At New Beginnings Family Law, we understand how stressful and devastating a divorce and child custody issues can be for a family. Our team is committed to providing a caring and comfortable environment where you can feel safe to talk about your case and your goals for the future. You can trust our Huntsville family law attorneys.

With more than a decade of experience successfully handling all types of family law cases, our team is prepared to guide you through this difficult time and help get you to the place you want to be.