Is a stay at home mom guaranteed alimony payments after a divorce?

Alimony women and divorce are huge issues for the stay-at-home mom. Alimony is paid by one spouse to another after divorce, marital dissolution or legal separation. Spousal support and maintenance are other terms you may hear that also mean alimony.

Alimony for Stay-at-Home Mom

Support awards are not gender based and may be awarded to a man or woman in a divorce case. The right to receive support is not guaranteed, even if you are a stay-at-home mom. Alimony is determined on a case-by-case basis. It will be awarded when one spouse has the means to provide support and the other has the need for support. Support payments are taxable income to the spouse that receives support and tax deductible by the paying spouse.

Alimony may be paid temporarily, short term, long term, or permanently. It can be paid in a lump sum or in monthly installments. The parties have some input as to how payments will be made, but if the parties submit their case to a family court, ultimately the judge will decide their fate.

Factors that will go into the determination of alimony award include length of the marriage and the financial situations of the parties.

Getting Legal Advice

A woman who is trying to figure out support payments or preparing to ask for spousal support in court should consult with a family law attorney to determine the appropriate type, duration and amount of support given the facts of her case.