With the downturn in the economy, there are times you simply cannot pay all of your bills. However, skipping on child support or spousal support (alimony) can get you into deep trouble that would be hard to get out of. Generally speaking, refusing to pay or skipping on your child support and spousal support payments is generally frowned upon by the court system as well as society. Many times, the courts step in and force collections for nonpayment that might result in a garnishment of your wages or seizure of your assets.
There might be severe penalties for any intentional nonpayment that could include heavy fines or even jail time. To serve your best interest, along with the interest of the individual you support, it’s best to do whatever is legally possible to pay your obligations on time.
The courts are often willing to listen to any change in circumstances you might be experiencing including a lost job, the birth of an additional child, or remarriage. However, you will need a skillful attorney that has the ability to argue for you in court, seeking the best modification to your spousal or child support.
The best way to obtain manageable spousal support payments is to hire a competent attorney during the divorce process. Typically, spousal support does not last forever. It is usually based on a formula that uses the foundation of the length of your marriage before divorce, the assets you both acquired, and the amount of income you both shared. Generally, individuals that were married for less than 10 years usually pay or receive spousal support for approximately half the length of the time they were married. Likewise, if an individual was married for decades, they most likely will pay or receive spousal support payments for a lengthy period of time.
The complexity of spousal support and the division of property can become very detailed during the divorce proceedings. The process is best left to experienced attorneys who can handle each type of specific case and will look out for your best interest through the entire procedure.
A competent, experienced attorney can make the process much simpler to the couple who is going through a divorce. Handling all the documents and filings with the court is usually best left to a lawyer. Obtaining reasonable child support or spousal support payments will make the cost easier to pay in the years ahead.
There might be severe penalties for any intentional nonpayment that could include heavy fines or even jail time. To serve your best interest, along with the interest of the individual you support, it’s best to do whatever is legally possible to pay your obligations on time.
The courts are often willing to listen to any change in circumstances you might be experiencing including a lost job, the birth of an additional child, or remarriage. However, you will need a skillful attorney that has the ability to argue for you in court, seeking the best modification to your spousal or child support.
The best way to obtain manageable spousal support payments is to hire a competent attorney during the divorce process. Typically, spousal support does not last forever. It is usually based on a formula that uses the foundation of the length of your marriage before divorce, the assets you both acquired, and the amount of income you both shared. Generally, individuals that were married for less than 10 years usually pay or receive spousal support for approximately half the length of the time they were married. Likewise, if an individual was married for decades, they most likely will pay or receive spousal support payments for a lengthy period of time.
The complexity of spousal support and the division of property can become very detailed during the divorce proceedings. The process is best left to experienced attorneys who can handle each type of specific case and will look out for your best interest through the entire procedure.
A competent, experienced attorney can make the process much simpler to the couple who is going through a divorce. Handling all the documents and filings with the court is usually best left to a lawyer. Obtaining reasonable child support or spousal support payments will make the cost easier to pay in the years ahead.
By Kenny Leigh
