It’s not that your spouse can’t work. It’s just that they get so caught up in their dreams that they don’t work – or at least at anything that earns them an income. Maybe they’re determined to be an influencer and spend most of their time cultivating a largely non-existent “presence” online. Maybe they quit their job the last time you got a big raise to focus on their gaming podcast.
Either way, their lofty ambitions and your need for financial stability came to head, and you’re getting a divorce. Your spouse still thinks, however, that you have to provide for them financially through alimony while they continue to pursue their increasingly unrealistic goals. Are they right?
Alimony isn’t a given – and (when granted) rarely lasts forever
It can be frustrating to know that your spouse is perfectly capable of gainful employment but expects you to simply hand over a support check while they play around. Fortunately, the court is the ultimate authority when it comes to whether or not any alimony is granted.
By law, the court will consider several things, including:
- How long it may take your spouse to get training so that they can be self-supporting
- The standard of living that was established during your marriage
- Each party’s contributions (monetary or otherwise) to the family
- The length of your marriage and the cause of its ending
- Each party’s age and health
If your spouse has the capacity to provide for themselves, the court may not be willing to force you to fund their “pet projects” at all. If you are required to pay alimony for a certain amount of time so that your spouse can rebuild their career, it’s not likely to last more than a few years.
In short, it’s not what your spouse says about alimony that matters. It’s what the judge decides. Experienced legal guidance can help you build your case and take the necessary steps to protect your future in a divorce.
