Are you involved in a dispute over maintenance or spousal support in a Louisville or Jefferson County divorce? Maintenance, often referred to as “spousal support” or “alimony” is one of the issues which often causes disagreement between divorcing couples here in Louisville. Unlike child support, which is based upon established guidelines (for the most part), maintenance is much more “negotiable” and is based on several factors under Kentucky family law, informed by your unique circumstances. There are obvious financial limitations based upon available income and other factors including child support.
This is an area where our experienced Louisville family law attorneys can make a substantial impact for our clients. Generally speaking, the Court will often look at the established lifestyle the couple enjoyed during the marriage, as well as the length of the marriage and the contributions of each partner. The health of the former spouses as well as the viability of self-sustaining income now or in the future must also be considered as factors by the judge in your case.
Did one of the parties give up work to stay home, manage the household and/or raise children? Did one of the parties support the other as they pursued a degree or professional license?
A dispute over maintenance or spousal support in a Louisville or Jefferson County divorce can lead to lengthy and costly delays. Your Dodd & Dodd family law attorney brings decades of experience to these legally and financially complex cases. We are often able to negotiate a successful resolution in these cases. Mediation may prove to be another cost-effective and timely alternative in a maintenance dispute.
Our attorneys work to understand your goals and objectives regarding maintenance orders during the process of the divorce (known as temporary orders) as well as going forward after the divorce (known as “permanent” orders). If the marriage lasted less than ten years the Court will usually favor limiting the duration of maintenance, and may issue instructions to the party receiving support regarding it’s duration and the need to seek and maintain meaningful employment. The Court will look at the quality of work and associated income, and compare it to the past work experience, education, health and abilities of the party receiving support.
“Permanent” in the context of maintenance orders does not usually mean “until death or remarriage” these days. Each case is unique, and the Court must consider a substantial number of factors as it determines the right amount and duration of spousal support in your case.
If you are beginning the process of a divorce, or are involved in a dispute over maintenance or spousal support in a Louisville or Jefferson County divorce we invite you to review the strong recommendations of our former clients and the legal industry and contact Dodd & Dodd or call 502-584-1108 to schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys.
