When getting divorced, one of the primary concerns you may have is how you will cope financially with the loss of one household income. This can be particularly daunting for divorcing spouses who are homemakers or spend most of their time caring for the children of the household.
Alimony is a court order that is often given as part of a divorce settlement. The spouse who is ordered to pay alimony will be obligated to provide the other spouse with financial support after the marriage is over. In most cases, the alimony order is temporary, meaning that the payments may only last a number of months or years. Nevertheless, it gives the divorcee time to gain their own source of income so that they can eventually become financially independent.
Many divorcing spouses who deserve alimony, unfortunately, have to fight hard for this right. If you are seeking alimony, your ex may be determined to avoid making such payments, and in their determination, they may even be inclined to hide sources of income or underestimate your cost of living. By being aware of this and planning ahead accordingly, you will be able to get a fair result. The following are some things you can do to maximize your chances.
Make an accurate budget
You may not get a generous alimony award if your expenses are deemed to be low. This is why it is paramount that you make a budget that gives a clear picture of all of your financial responsibilities.
Highlight the non-financial contributions you have made to the marriage
Although you may not have been earning a high income, it is likely that you were of considerable support to your spouse, and through your actions, you may have actually enabled them to earn an income. Childcare duties are recognized by the courts as a valuable non-financial contribution to any marriage.
Make your future barriers to employment known
Your future responsibility to take care of your children is inevitably going to have an impact on your capacity to work. This and other issues should be highlighted so that the courts can make a fair decision.
If you are going through a divorce in North Carolina and you are worried about your financial future, it is important that you take the time to understand your possibilities for gaining alimony.