What is Alimony In Illinois?
Spousal maintenance, sometimes also called alimony or spousal support, is an arrangement where one spouse makes monetary payments to their former partner following their divorce. It is generally meant to help a spouse who relied on their partner financially during the marriage or will experience unfair economic circumstances following the divorce.
Illinois courts consider a variety of factors when determining how much spousal maintenance to award, including:
- Each party’s income and property
- Both spouses’ present and future earning potential
- Standard of living established during the marriage
- Length of the marriage
- Contributions one spouse made to the other’s education, training or career
- The age, health, occupation and employability of both spouses
What You Need To Know About Spousal Maintenance in Illinois
When a couple decides to end their marriage, the courts will often award one spouse the right to maintenance (alimony) payments to offset any financial inequality resulting from the divorce.
The lawyers of Gravel & Wechter P.C. in Gurnee, Illinois, are dedicated to helping individuals through divorce issues such as alimony payments with compassion and dignity. With over 25 years of experience in the field, attorney Denis Gravel understands what is at stake and views these issues not as problems — but as opportunities to find solutions.
How Is Spousal Maintenance Distributed in Illinois?
Maintenance payments are generally made monthly, but in some cases, former spouses can elect to use a lump-sum payment instead. It may be because the lump-sum payment provides for finality from the divorce, or the paying spouse may be concerned about accidentally missing a payment. In either case, a lump-sum payment may be the best option.
Experienced Guidance Throughout The Divorce and Alimony Process
Recent changes in Illinois law have made determining spousal support amounts more complicated than in previous years. If you’re wondering how to file alimony in Illinois, our firm is committed to ensuring our clients understand the process and have realistic expectations. Call 847-380-3175 or send us an email to schedule a initial consultations at no charge.
