Divorce can have tremendous financial implications for the parties involved. This might be especially true when it comes to spousal support, which is also referred to as alimony. On one hand, a spouse might want to receive support post-divorce for a number of reasons, and his or her financial wellbeing might be jeopardized without it. On the other hand, an order for spousal support can’t put an enormous financial constraint on the individual who is ordered to pay it. That’s why, regardless of which side of the issue you fall, it’s critical to understand this legal area of your divorce.
What types of spousal support can be ordered?
Under Tennessee law, four types of alimony orders can be issues. Lump sum alimony can be paid in installments but is just a one-time order that probably isn’t going to get modified in any way. Another order may require rehabilitative alimony, which is meant to provide financial support to a former spouse to aid him or her in acquiring the education and training needed to get a job that will provide them with a similar lifestyle that they enjoyed during the course of the marriage.
Periodic alimony can also be ordered. Here, payments are made to accommodate a certain standard of living in the long-term. It’s important to note that this type of alimony might be required in addition to rehabilitative alimony. Transitional alimony, the fourth type of spousal support, is geared at providing short-term financial support as a former spouse transitions to their new life post-divorce.
Know how to argue your position
Whether you’re seeking spousal support, challenging it, or seeking some sort of modification to an existing alimony order, you need to know the law and how to argue it to your advantage. That might sound easy enough, but these matters can be fraught with challenges. That’s why it’s often best to discuss these matters with an attorney of your choosing so that you know that your financial interests will be advocated for as strongly as possible under the circumstances.