Divorcing Your Ex Who is Unable to Support Themselves

Many married couples are struggling to get along. They may not spend time with each other or communicate well anymore. They may even no longer love each other. 

However, getting a divorce is not an easy process. It is not only expensive but there are a lot of things to deal with. For example, what happens if you divorce your spouse, who is disabled or a stay-at-home parent? How will they financially support themselves?

In cases where one spouse serves as the breadwinner while the other makes little or no money, alimony is often necessary. Alimony, also known as spousal support, refers to payments made from one spouse to the other. 

Alimony is based on many factors. The length of the marriage is the biggest one. If the marriage lasted 10 years or longer and one spouse has never worked and has no education, then they could receive alimony for a long time. However, shorter marriages may also be eligible for alimony.

The courts will also look at the ages and health of both parties. They will also look at your income. If your ex is not making any money and you’re not making much money either, they are not going to receive much money. 

If you are divorcing a spouse with little money, be prepared to pay some amount of alimony, especially if your spouse was a stay-at-home parent. Do not try to hide your assets, but at the same time, do not try to live too lavishly. You could end up paying more than you can afford. 

Types of Alimony

There are several types of alimony available in Michigan:

• Periodic payments. This is the most common type of alimony in Michigan. Alimony payments are made regularly ( biweekly, monthly, or annually) for a period of time determined by the court. Periodic spousal support is done long enough to allow for the lower-earning spouse to become fully self-supporting. This could mean many years. 
• Lump-sum support. This allows the higher-earning party to pay the entire alimony in one lump-sum payment. This is done rarely, but it could be helpful for a spouse who cannot financially support themselves and needs a lot of money now to live on their own. 
• Temporary support. This type of support is used only during divorce proceedings to allow couples to maintain the status quo. It is used to help pay for the mortgage and utilities. 
• Permanent support. As the name implies, permanent support lasts until one party dies or the recipient remarries. This is rare but could be ordered if the recipient is old or disabled and has a low chance of becoming self-sufficient. 

Contact Us Today

Financial issues are common in divorces. It is not uncommon for one spouse to pay alimony until the other spouse gets on their feet. 

The Law Offices of Michael A. Robbins can determine if alimony will apply in your divorce. Contact us for more information. Schedule a consultation by filling out the online form or calling (248) 646-7980.