Are you wondering how will maintenance be handled in my Louisville divorce? Will you be eligible to receive maintenance (often referred to as “spousal support” or “alimony”) or be required to pay it? Unlike child support, which involves a specific calculation based on detailed financial information from each party, the process for determining the need for and amount of maintenance is a much less formally structured aspect of Kentucky family law.
Important Takeaways Regarding the Question “How will Maintenance be Handled in My Louisville Divorce”:
- While there is a very specific child support calculator under Kentucky Family Law, the issue of maintenance is not as exact. There is no particular formula or calculation that will determine the need for, amount, or duration of maintenance during or after a Kentucky divorce.
- Kentucky Family Law outlines several key factors for the Judge to consider when determining maintenance (also referred to as “spousal support” or “alimony”) in Kentucky.
- Temporary orders are issued at the outset of the divorce process. They are usually in place until the Judge issues “Permanent” orders. “Permanent” in this case does not mean “until death or remarriage”; it refers to orders going forward after the divorce, often involving specific time frames when the orders pertain to spousal maintenance.
How will maintenance be handled in my Louisville divorce? The Judge in each divorce and post-decree family law case has broad authority to determine the need for, duration, and specific amount of any order for spousal maintenance here in Kentucky. While the formula for maintenance is not exact, like child support calculations, Kentucky family law establishes several factors for the Judge in your case to consider during and after a divorce. These include, but are not limited to:
- How long did the marriage last? The likelihood of maintenance (as well as the amount) is increased when the marriage lasts 10 years or longer than it might be in marriages of a shorter duration.
- How old is each spouse?
- Is either of the parties known to have or currently facing a health challenge?
- What was the standard of living you enjoyed while you were married?
- How much income does each party presently earn? What is the specific amount of the difference between the incomes of each spouse?
- Does one of the spouses have a specific need for financial support, and does the other party have the ability to provide this support?
- What are the employment histories of each of the former spouses?
- Has either party made a sacrifice in their career to support the other as they pursued education or licensing, or left employment to raise the children and manage the needs of the household?
- How long will it take for the recipient to become self-sustaining?
- Is there substantial marital property that might eliminate the need for maintenance?
- Has there been any current or former issue(s) with domestic violence?
The question of “How will maintenance be handled in my Louisville divorce?” is genuinely as unique as your own personal circumstances. The divorce and family law attorneys at Dodd & Dodd can help to provide insight into these questions, as well as sound counsel and advice on any question relating to the amount or duration of maintenance in your specific case. Our Courts are much less likely to give an extended timeframe for maintenance or spousal support. This is usually accompanied by an order for the recipient to become “self-sufficient” by a specific date.
Maintenance is often a matter resolved through negotiations or mediation between the parties. These are complex issues and require the insight and analysis of the family law attorneys at Dodd & Dodd, who have decades of experience in cases involving maintenance, divorce, and other family law matters..
How will maintenance be handled in my Louisville divorce? Get answers to this and all of your questions about divorce and family law matters throughout the Louisville area. We invite you to review the strong recommendations of our former clients and the legal industry and contact Dodd & Dodd or call 502-584-1108 to schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys.
