Lawyers Securing The Spousal Support You Need
Alimony, also referred to as spousal support or spousal maintenance, is designed to help a spouse who earned a lower income or has had no earnings during a marriage to maintain their quality of life. At the Law Offices of Meridith A. Gregory, LLC, we have assisted clients in Massachusetts and in New Hampshire to secure the appropriate alimony orders both during their divorce proceedings as well as post-divorce.
Massachusetts has undergone alimony reform that effectively limits on the amount and duration of payments that a recipient of alimony may receive. Factors include the number of years of the marriage lasted and the parties’ available income. Anyone who is seeking alimony, whether temporary or permanent, requires a skilled attorney who is knowledgeable of the Alimony Reform Act in order to obtain the best results.
How The Court Determines Alimony Terms
Similar to other family law matters, the court considers a variety of factors when determining alimony payments. A family court judge will often consider the following:
- How long the marriage lasted
- Each spouse’s income and earning potential
- Each spouse’s expenses and liabilities
- The age and health of each spouse
- The child custody and child support arrangements
- Property and asset allocation during the divorce
- Personal circumstances such as domestic violence or alcohol abuse
You will have more flexible options in determining alimony payments if you and your divorcing spouse seek a solution through mediation. (This is also the case with child support.)
For temporary alimony, the court may take into consideration how much time the spouse needs in order to become financially independent. In rare circumstances, an experienced family law attorney can request permanent alimony, if the length of the marriage and the financial needs of the client warrant it.
We’ll Fight For The Alimony You Deserve
Based in North Andover, our firm dedicates equal time to helping clients in Massachusetts and New Hampshire to secure substantial alimony payments. We are familiar with the laws, judges and legal systems in both states, and our lawyers can offer unique insight on how your state’s alimony laws apply to you.
For more personalized counsel and to get started on your divorce and alimony case, call us at 978-655-4787 (MA) or 978-655-4787 (NH) to set up your appointment by email.