By Stange Law Firm, PC on Tuesday, January 12, 2016.
During some divorce cases, the question of alimony may come up. Alimony, or better known as the maintenance in Missouri, is being awarded to more men, considering some women are now out-earning their husbands. Women are no different from men when it comes to their dislike of paying maintenance for their former spouse.
A recent study finds an increase in the percent of men receiving alimony nationwide increased 0.5 percent, but still only accounts for about 3 percent of the total alimony recipients.
Alimony is become less and less more common, having fallen from being awarded to about 25 percent of the divorce cases in the 60’s to now only about 10 percent. Maintenance can still be awarded in Missouri, but the preference is for the dependent spouse to return to the workforce.
Maintenance in Missouri is often awarded for a limited time, to allow a dependent spouse to obtain training or return to school to obtain the certain necessary skills to earn a viable income.
The judge will consider a list of factors when determining the need and duration of maintenance. You can discuss these factors with your divorce attorney. By working through these factors, you can likely determine the potential for maintenance in your divorce.
In a long-term marriage, where one spouse remained home and never worked, there is a greater likelihood of maintenance being granted than if both spouses had jobs and worked for the majority of the marriage.
You should not expect alimony to be apart of your divorce. This is a another reason why your property settlement is very important, because it is creating much of the foundation for your economic future.
Source: time.com, “Breadwinning Women Are Driving Alimony Reform,” Beth Pinsker, Reuters, November 17, 2015
