Upon deciding to enter a marriage, couples may face a variety of decisions as they create a plan for what they want from the future. However, things don’t always go as planned, and should you choose to take separate paths in life, the decisions you and your spouse made may continue to affect various aspects of your life.
You might decide to leave your job to care for your family, or your spouse may forgo a higher education to support your career. These are just a couple of examples of scenarios in which spousal support might be necessary. Understanding how alimony works could prove integral to preparing to protect your future.
Determining spousal support
Experts indicate that there are several types of alimony in Tennessee, and the type that is appropriate in your situation may depend on the variables at hand. Some examples of factors that might influence the determination of spousal support may include:
- Financial resources: The court may address topics such as each spouse’s financial resources, earning capacity and needs when making a final decision regarding spousal support.
- Training and education: Factors such as current job training and education and ability to seek the future training to improve employment opportunities may also play a vital role in this determination.
- Length of marriage: The duration of your marriage and outcome of the division of marital property may also be factors that influence the court’s decision regarding alimony.
- Age and health: The court may also address topics such as age, physical and mental health, and the nature of each party’s contributions to the marriage.
If you have kids together, the court may also consider the needs of the kids and primary caregiver’s ability to obtain employment while caring for the children when determining spousal support.
Protecting your future
While understanding how spousal support works may be just one vital aspect of preparing to dissolve a marriage, it can also be integral to preparing to safeguard your interests. With various vital topics to address, it could be in your best interests to seek guidance on your options and what to expect from the subsequent process. Such advice could play an integral role in helping you create a strategy for legal proceedings that align with your interests and needs and help you approach the coming transition in life with confidence.