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The ABCs of Dealing With Domestic Violence

Domestic violence was a part of my family's life for years. When I made the decision to leave with my children, I had to rely on the law to provide the protection we needed. Sometimes, the system does not work as fast as we want. I soon learned that going at it alone without any guidance caused significant delays. I created this blog to help others who are seeking legal means to deal with an abusive ex. By making the right moves, it is possible to get the necessary protections in place so that you can also live a happier and healthier life.

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The ABCs of Dealing With Domestic Violence

Alimony And You: Key Considerations

by Gina Hill

Going through a divorce is never an easy process and things can be even more difficult if you intend to ask the court to grant you alimony. Before asking a divorce court to award alimony, it's a good idea to know as much about the subject as possible. The following article examines some of the key issues surrounding alimony that everyone hoping to receive financial support from an ex-spouse needs to know.

Eligible

You are not going to receive alimony just because you ask for it. Divorce courts typically grant alimony only when certain conditions are met. The judge will look at the financial resources available to you after the divorce and whether you are able to support yourself with these resources. The court will also consider the length of the marriage and your age and overall health. Whether or not you are employed or need extensive training to find a job will be considered as well. Also, a number of other factors might come into play depending on your specific circumstances.

Time

The duration of an alimony award varies depending on a variety of factors, with the length of the marriage typically being a very important consideration. For example, if you were married for five years then you are not likely to receive alimony for more than half of the marriage's duration, which means you would only receive payments for two and a half years.

If the marriage lasted more than 10 years then you would likely get payments for a little more than half of the duration of the marriage. For very long marriages of 20 years or more, the alimony award could be permanent or until retirement. Although these examples are valid for many states, the length of time you will receive alimony depends on the specific laws of your state.

End

Your alimony payments will last for the specific length of time decreed by the court unless the judge awards you permanent alimony. It may also come to an end if the financial situations or living conditions of your or your ex-spouse change. For example, alimony usually comes to an end if the party receiving the payments remarries. Your payments may also end if you decide to live with a partner, although state laws vary on this point. A court could also reduce your payments if your ex-spouse's income decreases and they petition the court to lower the award.

To learn more about alimony and how it will affect you, consult with an experienced divorce lawyer. For more information, visit a site like http://gomezmaylaw.com/.

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