Alimony Lawyer Virginia

If you want to provide or receive alimony payments from your ex-spouse, it is important to consult an alimony lawyer in Virginia promptly. Alimony negotiations can be quite stressful, so it is wise to have someone knowledgeable and experienced on your side. A lawyer can improve your chances of a successful outcome.

What Is Spousal Support?

Traditionally referred to as alimony, spousal support consists of payments made from one former spouse to another. There are many different reasons why spousal support is either ordered by a court or voluntarily agreed to by both spouses as a term of an asset division plan. An alimony lawyer Virginia families trust can explain the ins and outs of how spousal support works in great detail. If you have questions about this legal tool, you can always connect with our firm in a risk-free consultation setting.

With that said, it can be helpful to understand the basics of spousal support and why making alimony part of your asset division strategy may or may not be in your best interests. That way, when you arrive for your risk-free consultation with a knowledgeable Virginia alimony lawyer on our team, you’ll have personalized questions about this process, concerns, and thoughts on the subject at the ready.

Spousal Support as an Asset Division Tool

In Virginia, divorcing couples are subject to an equitable distribution standard. This is a much more flexible standard than the one used in equal distribution states. In equal distribution states, all marital property must be divided 50-50 according to its overall value. This is a straightforward way of ensuring that both spouses receive an equal share of their marital property. However, there are times when special circumstances render this formula either unfair or impractical. To remedy these formulaic limitations, equitable distribution states—including Virginia—allow asset division agreements to distribute marital property less strictly than the 50-50 standard, provided that the terms of the agreement are “fair.”

You and your spouse can—if you hope to agree on the terms of your settlement instead of having a judge intervene in your case—choose to make spousal support part of your asset division strategy. There are many reasons why you might embrace this approach. Not so long ago, spousal support was awarded primarily when one spouse had taken on a homemaker role while the other spouse earned an income. An alimony award was meant to make up for a difference in income earning ability. Nowadays, it is more common

Common Alimony Mistakes

If your ex-spouse was the main breadwinner during your marriage, you may hope to receive alimony for financial support. Here are some common alimony mistakes you need to avoid making during the process:

Assuming that alimony is guaranteed. Unlike popular belief, alimony is not granted in every divorce. A judge has to look at multiple factors before deciding if someone is eligible for alimony or not. For instance, if you were only married for less than a year, you may not qualify to receive alimony payments.
Thinking that alimony will last forever. Alimony payments were never designed to be permanent. As such, you should not expect them to last forever. The length of your marriage is one of the biggest factors for determining the duration of alimony. Typically, one year of alimony is paid for every three years of marriage. If you get remarried, the judge will end your alimony payments.
Not hiring a lawyer. If you want to collect alimony from your ex-spouse, you should not just rely on a mediator for assistance. Mediators can’t give legal advice and may not be able to give you the outcome you want. It is in your best interest to work with a lawyer. He or she can help you negotiate a favorable alimony settlement.
Choosing the wrong lawyer. If your goal is to receive alimony, you should not just work with any lawyer. It is important to hire an experienced alimony lawyer in Virginia. A lawyer who specializes in alimony cases will have more knowledge about the process and be a bigger help to you.

Speaking to an Alimony Lawyer

If you wish to receive alimony payments, your next step is to speak to a qualified alimony lawyer. He or she will review your case and determine if you are eligible to receive alimony payments or not. During your initial consultation, be completely truthful about your situation and provide as many details as possible.

Schedule a consultation with an alimony lawyer in Virginia from May Law LLP today to discuss your case.

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Alimony Lawyer Virginia