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Going through a divorce can be an arduous and exhausting process for both parties involved. Once the decision to get a divorce has been made, the individuals must figure out what possessions and funds, if any, will go to whom. It’s not a fun process to go through, but it must be done.

Prepare for words such as alimony, spousal support and child support (if you have children) to be brought up. All three of these terms refer to various forms of financial support on behalf of one ex-spouse to another. In order to best prepare for your divorce, it will be helpful to familiarize yourself with these terms.

What Are Alimony And Spousal Support?

Alimony is defined as “a husband’s or wife’s provision for a spouse after separation or divorce.” This usually occurs when one spouse earns significantly more money than their partner, and they have been married for at least several years. The length of the marriage may determine the amount of time alimony must be paid. For instance, if you were married for five years or less, Massachusetts law dictates that the length of the alimony payments cannot exceed more than 50 percent of the marriage’s length.

The term “spousal support” is basically an updated, modern version of the term alimony. It is gender-neutral, and is defined as a “payment for support of an ex-spouse ordered by the court.” “Spousal support” is considered to have a more positive connotation than “alimony.” As a result, it is used more often than “alimony” these days. Other than this one specific distinction, there is no major difference between the two terms.

What You Need To Know About Child Support

As the name implies, child support is a court-ordered payment by a non-custodial parent to help support his or her child/children. Child support usually covers:

●  Basic necessities such as food and clothing

●  Medical care

●  Childcare

●  Education expenses

It can also cover things such as entertainment or travel expenses.

When deciding on the amount that the non-custodial parent must pay, courts usually consider factors such as the custodial parent’s income and the general amount of money needed to support the child.

Divorce isn’t an easy process, which is why you should have an expert by your side throughout the journey. That’s why the Law Offices of Jacob D. Geller team is here to help guide you.

For more information on how we can help you, contact us today!

This blog does not constitute legal advice. Please contact our office for further information.