Calculating Alimony or Spousal Support in PA

A divorce can cause a tremendous amount of stress and heartbreak. There are countless issues that must be resolved before the separation can be finalized. Elements of child custody, such as who will attend to the day-to-day needs of the child, must be determined, as well as how child support will be arranged. Another aspect of divorce that seems to escape a lot of people’s attention is calculating spousal support or alimony.

The Pittsburgh divorce lawyers at Pittsburgh Divorce & Family Law, LLC realize these situations need to be handled carefully. After all, it is much better to collaborate with your former spouse than to endure a lengthy court battle. Attorney Anthony Piccirilli will guide you through how these determinations are made with practical information to protect your interests as you arrive at a fair and balanced spousal support agreement.

Factors that Play a Role

In the state of Pennsylvania, alimony is defined as monthly payments made from one spouse to another. Many misconceptions exist regarding how spousal support is determined. The first, and most prominent, is that alimony will only be ordered in cases where the marriage lasted a number of years. Another misconception is that the receiving spouse is entitled to one year of spousal support for every three years of marriage. While these beliefs are based on some truth, there are a multitude of factors that are used to determine the amount of alimony payments. Other elements that a judge might consider when calculating spousal support or alimony include, but are not limited to:

• The reason the divorce is being sought and whether both spouses agree that the divorce is necessary
• How long the marriage lasted, and in most cases, a person will not be granted spousal support if the marriage ends after only a few months
• Whether or not the spouse that is more financially successful can afford to make monthly alimony payments
• Whether or not the receiving spouse has the ability to get a job and arrange their own finances

Alimony Pendente Lite in the Interim

While the divorce and spousal support agreements are being finalized, the receiving spouse is entitled to financial support in the interim. This is referred to as alimony pendente lite. It begins when the divorce is filed and ends with the divorce being legitimized.

Unlike alimony, there is a strict method for calculating this temporary form of spousal support. The formula used in the state of Pennsylvania states that the receiving spouse must receive 40 percent of the difference between the spouses’ net incomes on a monthly basis. If the couple has children, the formula is altered to 30 percent of the net income difference. This is due to the fact that the parent paying spousal support is likely paying child support as well.

Let Anthony Piccirilli Protect Your Rights

Many people neglect to resolve certain divorce-related issues until it is too late. If a couple waits until the end of the divorce process to create a spousal support agreement, it is likely that they will not be able to cooperate. A judge may then issue an order that grants the receiving spouse an alimony amount that is either too high or too low.

If you are currently going through a divorce, you are likely worried about your financial situation. The Pittsburgh divorce lawyers at Pittsburgh Divorce & Family Law, LLC know how stressful these situations can be. With years of experience, attorney Anthony Piccirilli will proactively help you protect your financial interests and correct any errors or inconsistencies that may exist in your current agreement.

Call (412) 471-5100 today to see how your financial rights can be protected.