What Divorcing Couples Should Know About Family Law
Alimony, or “maintenance” as it’s known in Kentucky, provides a divorcing spouse the resources they need to begin establishing their own life. Unlike child support and property division, maintenance payments are subject to the discretion of a judge, based on the individual circumstances of each case. Understanding how alimony is treated under Kentucky family law will help ensure a fair settlement that gives you the funds to start over.
A Brief Guide to Alimony in Kentucky
Temporary Maintenance
Most maintenance orders are temporary arrangements intended to provide financial support to a lower-earning spouse while the divorce is in progress. In many cases, the maintenance payments end when the marriage is officially dissolved, although the court may order alimony until the recipient completes a job training program or meets some other milestone.
Permanent Maintenance
Permanent maintenance orders are rare, usually limited to marriages that lasted 10 years or more. Even in long-term marriages, the court will usually only order permanent maintenance if one spouse has significantly less earning power or suffers from a medical condition that makes it impossible to work.
Factors Influencing Maintenance Amounts
While child support and property division guidelines are described in each state’s family law, courts generally have broad discretion when issuing maintenance orders. In addition to the duration of the marriage, the judge may also consider the value of each spouse’s assets, their respective earning potentials, and any circumstances that prevent one party from being financially independent.
If you’re going through a divorce, trust the family law attorneys at Lonneman & Associates, PLLC to protect your rights and make this difficult experience as easy as possible. They’ve been serving families throughout Hardin, Larue, Nelson, Hart, and Grayson counties since 1981, earning a reputation as one of the area’s leading legal teams. Visit their website for more on their family law services or call (270) 765-2190 to schedule a consultation.
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