Divorce is a difficult and time-consuming process for all parties involved. In addition to the mental and emotional stress you might go through, variations in state laws regarding spousal support can further complicate the process. An experienced spousal support lawyer in Stroudsburg, PA can help you navigate through the laws and provide you with legal representation to negotiate or litigate any spousal support disputes.
What You Should Know
Most people think of spousal support as alimony, a form of ongoing payments made by one spouse to the other when they are going through a divorce. However, Pennsylvania has two other forms of alimony: spousal support and alimony pendente lite (APL).
A dependent spouse in Pennsylvania can only receive financial support from the time of separation until the filing of a divorce complaint. This means the parties are still legally married but separated and divorce proceedings have not yet been commenced. However, unlike many other states, Pennsylvania courts can refuse to award spousal support if the dependent spouse (the obligee) is accused of marital misconduct.
Alimony pendente lite (APL), also known as alimony pending litigation, refers to the support awarded to the obligee once the divorce complaint is filed until the divorce decree is issued. The amount awarded for APL is calculated using the same formula as used for spousal support. If an obligee does not qualify for spousal support, they can still receive APL. Unlike spousal support, the court cannot refuse to award APL on the grounds of a fault-divorce.
The final type of support is called alimony. Alimony is ordered once a divorce decree is issued to help the dependent spouse meet their needs. It is based on a consideration of 17 different factors, including income and length of the marriage. There are no formulas or rules for calculating alimony.
When to Hire a Spousal Support Lawyer
Going through a divorce is hard enough. But hiring the right attorney to represent you doesn’t have to be. If you are concerned that you may not be awarded enough spousal support or may be paying too much, consider hiring a spousal support lawyer in Stroudsburg, PA. An expert attorney can meet with you for a private consultation and help you through the processes with your best interest in mind. Visit us to see how we can help you.
