where can i get a lawyer to help me get alimony

Why hire an alimony attorney?

Why hire an Alimony attorney When an ex-spouse makes payments to a former spouse after the divorce, the payments are called alimony. Alimony payments (also called spousal support) are intended to preserve the lifestyle the former spouse enjoyed before the divorce.

Do I need a divorce lawyer to calculate alimony?

A divorce lawyer who specializes in alimony knows what information you need to calculate alimony, and can also help if you feel your ex-spouse is asking for too much alimony. When an ex-spouse makes payments to a former spouse after the divorce, the payments are called alimony.

How can I improve my chances of winning alimony?

Emphasize factors that favor an award of spousal support. Out of all the factors the court considers when deciding whether to award alimony, some will be more beneficial to you than others. You and your attorney will work together to find the ones that weigh heavily in favor of an alimony award for you.

How do I get alimony in a fault-based divorce?

If you want alimony, this petition must state that you are requesting spousal support. Keep in mind that you don't have to petition for a fault-based divorce, but doing so may improve your chances of getting alimony. Your attorney will discuss which is better for you based on the laws in your state and the temperaments of the judges in your county.

What factors will a judge consider for you to get alimony?

What factors will the judge consider when deciding whether to award alimony?ability to pay support;age;employment history and job potential;income history and income potential;education and training;retirement provisions and health insurance benefits;tax consequences for the sale of your marital property or home;More items...•

What is it called when you can't afford a lawyer?

When a court decides someone is "indigent" - with few assets and no funds to pay an attorney - generally either a private lawyer will be appointed by the court and paid with county funds, or a public defender program will be appointed to represent the person.

Can a girlfriend ask for alimony?

In most states, neither unmarried partner is entitled to receive any alimony-type support after a breakup unless there is proof of a clear agreement to provide post-separation support. In some states this must be a written agreement.

Who pays alimony the most?

Top 10 Highest Alimony PaymentsKevin Costner & Cindy Silva — $80 million. ... Amy Irving & Steven Spielberg — $100 million. ... Neil Diamond & Marcia Murphy — $150 million. ... Mel & Robin Gibson — (more than) $425 million. ... Craig & Wendy McCaw — (more than) $460 million. ... Rupert & Anna Murdoch — $1.7 billion. ... Alimony Tips.More items...•

Can you get legal aid for a divorce?

Legal aid is still available in funding finance cases in divorce, but only if you are financially eligible and you are at risk of domestic abuse.

What's the difference between attorney and lawyer?

Attorney vs Lawyer: Comparing Definitions Lawyers are people who have gone to law school and often may have taken and passed the bar exam. Attorney has French origins, and stems from a word meaning to act on the behalf of others. The term attorney is an abbreviated form of the formal title 'attorney at law'.

How does a wife get alimony?

The alimony can be provided as a periodical or monthly payment, or as a one-time payment in the form of a lump-sum amount. If the alimony is being paid on a monthly basis, the Supreme Court of India has set 25% of the husband's net monthly salary as the benchmark amount that should be granted to the wife.

Can I sue my ex for cheating?

You cannot sue your ex-boyfriend for cheating, lying, and breaking a promise to marry you. Those sort of lawsuits did exist at one time, but those days have long since passed. In fact, the engagement ring became a thing when Courts...

Can you sue someone for breaking up your marriage?

In an alienation of affection lawsuit, you can essentially sue a third party for breaking up your marriage. All you have to do is prove that: Love and affection existed in the marriage. This love was alienated and destroyed.

What gender pays more alimony?

Women are still the primary alimony recipients, but the number of men who receive alimony from their former spouses is increasing. According to the 2000 census, 0.5 percent of alimony recipients in the United States were male. By 2010, 3 percent of the 400,000 alimony recipients in the country were male.

Why do husbands pay alimony?

Alimony is also called as maintenance or spousal support and spousal maintenance it is a legal obligation to provide financial support to one's spouse before or after the marital separation or divorce.

How long do you have to pay alimony?

A spousal maintenance order may be made for life (i.e. until one of you dies or the recipient remarries) or for an extendable term or for a non-extendable term. When deciding how long a spousal maintenance order should last, the court's aim is for there to be a clean break at the earliest opportunity.

How does alimony work?

Unlike child support, which in most states is mandated according to very specific monetary guidelines, courts have broad discretion in determining whether to award alimony and, if so, how much and for how long. The Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act, on which many states’ spousal support statutes are based, recommends that courts consider the following factors in making decisions about alimony awards: 1 The age, physical condition, emotional state, and financial condition of the former spouses 2 The length of time the recipient would need for education or training to become self-sufficient 3 The couple’s standard of living during the marriage 4 The length of the marriage 5 The ability of the payer spouse to support the recipient and still support himself or herself.

What is the purpose of alimony?

The purpose of alimony is to limit any unfair economic effects of a divorce by providing a continuing income to a non-wage-earning or lower-wage-earning spouse. A family law attorney can help you determine if you should seek alimony, or if you may be required to pay alimony.

What Is A New Or Modification Of Alimony or Spousal Support?

Understanding your case and law better in regards to spousal support is very important.

Should I Hire An Alimony & Spousal Support Attorney?

Experienced and skilled alimony or spousal support attorneys who know what they are doing can make your family law and divorce process easy.

Affordable Payment Plans & Free Consultation

Some people may be wondering if they can get a payment plan or free consultation when they speak to an attorney for spousal support cases?

How to get a divorce decree?

To get a divorce decree, you must first file a petition, usually in the county court where you and your spouse currently live. If you want alimony, this petition must state that you are requesting spousal support.

What happens if my attorney doesn't pay my court fees?

If it isn't, your attorney likely will want payment of the fee in full before your petition is filed. Once filed, your attorney will have the petition served on your spouse. This typically occurs by hiring a sheriff's deputy to hand-deliver the petition and other court papers to your spouse.

What happens after a divorce petition is filed?

Soon after the petition and your spouse's answer are filed, you'll begin the process of discovery. Through this process, you and your spouse will exchange information that has relevance to the divorce proceeding. Document production is one part of the discovery process.

Does cheating on your spouse affect your alimony?

However, each court has a number of other factors that it also takes into account when comparing the relative position and abilities of the spouses. The fact that your spouse cheated on you does have some impact on whether you'll get alimony, but it isn't the only thing the judge will look at.

Can my spouse contest my divorce?

However, you probably shouldn't expect this to happen, even if your spouse has told you they won't contest the divorce. If your spouse has hired an attorney, the response will come from the attorney. Any communication you need to have with your spouse regarding the divorce should go through your attorneys.

Is alimony a punishment?

It may not seem fair, but remember, alimony is not punishment. However, if you were financially dependent on your spouse and you were married for many years, the odds are more in your favor. This is especially true if you made decisions that limited your income based on plans that benefited the two of you as a couple.

Does a prenuptial agreement address alimony?

If you have a valid prenuptial agreement, it probably addresses the matter of alimony. This is especially likely if you married someone who had a significant amount of assets at the start of the marriage. Your prenuptial agreement may state that no alimony will be paid absent wrongdoing on the part of your spouse.

Getting or changing alimony in Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts allows you to ask for a change in alimony either together with your ex-spouse or on your own. You are also free to request alimony at any time after your divorce, even if it was not part of the original divorce judgment.

Using the services of a family law attorney

We encourage our clients to pursue a process of mediation. We understand, however, that sometimes this is not a viable option.

Is spouse support permanent?

Spousal support may be temporary, such as when a former spouse needs time to get back into the job market, brush up on skills, complete an educational program, or raise the children; or permanent, such as when a spouse may never become self-supporting due to age or disability. Your answers to the questions below can help you ...

Can a former spouse get alimony?

Not every former spouse receives alimony, which is also called spousal support or maintenance. Alimony will be awarded only when a former spouse is unable to meet their needs without financial assistance from a spouse who can afford to pay it. Spousal support may be temporary, such as when a former spouse needs time to get back into the job market, ...

What is a pro bono divorce lawyer?

Pro bono divorce lawyers are, in essence, free divorce lawyers. They are attorneys that will voluntary take on your case at no charge. (Because divorce is a civil legal matter, the court will not appoint a lawyer to represent you, as is done in criminal cases.)

What are some free divorce resources?

Other Free Divorce Resources 1 Free Divorce Worksheet: Some websites offer free online divorce worksheets by state. This worksheet will help you collect all the information you will need to hand to your lawyer to help you finalize your divorce. 2 Free Personal Legal Forms: You can find free personal legal forms, including child visitation letters, online. 3 Bar Associations: State and local bar associations often publish guides to commonly encountered legal situations, such as getting a divorce and writing a will. Check with your local bar association for more information.

Do you have to file a divorce petition with the Family Law District Court?

However, even in this circumstance, one of the spouses must first file an original petition for divorce with the Family Law District Court to have a divorce granted. You may wish to contract an attorney to help you file this document to ensure it is done correctly.

Do you pay a lawyer upfront?

Contingent Fees: You pay the lawyer nothing upfront, but the lawyer keeps a percentage of any money awarded to you at the end of the case. (Contingency fees are not used in divorce cases.)

Can a high income spouse pay for divorce?

In some situations, a court might require a high-earning spouse to pay the legal fees and expenses of the lower-income spouse, which allows those with lower incomes to have legal assistance. However, if this is not the case, you may want to consider finding a pro bono divorce lawyer.