We are often asked “How long will maintenance support last?” How long does maintenance last after your Louisville divorce? Will it be enough to be able to support a separate household? Questions of maintenance (often referred to as “spousal support” or “alimony”) are not a clearly defined calculation in Kentucky law like the child support calculations guidelines. Therefore, maintenance is usually a negotiation between the parties or the result of mediation or litigation before the Judge in your case.
While Kentucky law does not a specific formula to calculate the amount of maintenance, it does attribute several factors which the court must take into consideration, including but not limited to:
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- The age and health of the parties
- The duration of the marriage itself
- The financial capacity of each party and lifestyle prior to the divorce
- The economic viability of each former spouse
- Education and employment history
- The sacrifice of one spouse to support another while they finished education or sought a professional license
The experienced divorce and family law attorneys at Dodd & Dodd Attorneys, PLLC guide our clients through maintenance conversations, negotiation, mediation and, when necessary, litigation. We have represented clients before Louisville Family Courts for decades and this experience further informs the sound advice and counsel we provide throughout the process.
Generally speaking, “temporary maintenance” support may be ordered for the duration of the process of the divorce. Once final orders are issued by the Judge in your case, the Court may issue “permanent” support orders.
It is also important to note that maintenance does not often continue until death and “permanent” doesn’t mean “forever.” Most cases involve a period of time for the recipient of maintenance to become self-sufficient. In cases where a marriage lasted a significant number of years (usually longer than ten years) the term of maintenance can be longer. What factors affect when maintenance will end and when or if it can be modified in the future?
How long will maintenance support last in your case? Maintenance is often a contentious issue in a Louisville divorce. There are several strategies to resolve this issue in a cost-effective manner, and the attorneys at Dodd & Dodd Attorneys, PLLC are committed to achieving our client’s goals. We invite you to review the strong recommendations of our former clients and contact us or call 502-584-1108 to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced divorce and family law attorneys.
