There are people who question if spousal maintenance is still necessary. Today, men and women work, and the likelihood of having a single person unable to bring in an income is much lower than in the past when alimony was typical.
That leads many people to think that spousal maintenance isn’t needed anymore. However, that isn’t true, and there are circumstances in which one spouse may need to rely on maintenance to help them as they adjust to living independently again.
Why should people still get spousal maintenance?
Spousal maintenance is designed to help support a spouse who may not have the financial means to do so themselves. It’s also designed to “make up the difference,” between the lifestyle the individual had while married and what they’d be able to afford on their own.
Spousal maintenance is about fairness. It gives those who may otherwise not be able to support themselves the opportunity to seek a divorce and go through with it. It helps people who have primary custody of their children have more flexibility in their work schedules or take a few extra months to focus on getting an education to increase their own career prospects.
Who determines spousal maintenance in Nassau County?
Spousal maintenance is determined in one of two ways. The first is for you and your spouse to agree to a set maintenance amount. The second is to have a judge rule on your case and set maintenance based on the state guidelines.
It’s important that you understand how spousal maintenance works and the options you have. Our website has more on support and when it may be necessary in a divorce case.