Divorce and Mediation Services in Houston: How Many Types of Alimony Exist?

Divorce Services Houston

Divorce and mediation services in Houston can assist you when the ultimate decision has been made to divorce. Approximately one million couples a year divorce in the United States. Divorce and mediation services offer a variety of methods to approach your divorce.

Divorce and mediation services can assist in different types of divorce such as ‘no-fault’, ‘at-fault’, summary divorce, uncontested divorce, collaborative divorce and mediated divorce. If one partner has stayed in the home to raise children, a divorce brings up the need for spousal support. The subject of alimony comes up if a judge believes the divorce created an inequitable economic situation for one spouse.

Alimony is a term denoting legal obligation to provide financial support to one’s spouse from the other spouse after marital separation or divorce. Alimony is premised upon the idea that spouses have a legal obligation to support each other during marriage and beyond that into divorce or separation.

There are five types of spousal alimony recognized by most state courts.

Lump sum alimony is awarded when one spouse does not desire any of the property or valuable items from the marriage. The judge may order a one-time lump-sum payment in compensation for the other items. Divorce and mediation services can assist in ensuring an equitable amount is awarded.

Another form of alimony is called rehabilitative alimony. This is where a judge orders payment to provide financial support while the ex-spouse goes to school for job training or searches for work. This type of alimony is temporary.

Reimbursement alimony is an attempt to repay a spouse who supported a partner through higher education or work training. This type of alimony entails regular payments to reimburse a portion of the costs paid.

Divorce and mediation services in Houston can ensure temporary alimony is made during the period of time the couple is separated, or in divorce proceedings, but not divorced. These payments are intended to cover the costs of the divorce, daily expenses and will continue until the court sets the amount of permanent alimony.

Permanent alimony is the amount awarded at the conclusion of the divorce. Although permanent alimony is usually permanent, it can change due to circumstances such as remarriage or cohabitation.

Divorce and mediation services can assist in determining alimony calculations that vary from state to state. Courts take into consideration the age of the ex-spouses, how long the couple was married, and separated, their incomes, anticipated future income and gender of the party seeking alimony. Other considerations are the couple’s standard of living during the marriage and the physical, emotional and financial condition of the spouse.