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Getting divorced is one of life’s most challenging events, as it can take a serious toll on your financial well-being. It’s not uncommon for one spouse to earn significantly more than the other, creating a serious hardship when it comes time to separate households. For this reason, divorce lawyers often help their clients seek alimony, which requires one party to make payments to the other so both can maintain the same standard of living they had during the marriage. Here are some key considerations Connecticut courts take into account when determining alimony.

What Factors Contribute to Connecticut Alimony Decisions?

Duration of the Marriage

Generally, one of the first factors the courts will look at is how long the marriage lasted. Although it’s up to the judge’s discretion, the longer the union stayed intact, the longer alimony usually has to be paid. For shorter marriages, there’s a greater possibility of being denied alimony payments. This is especially the case if the relationship didn’t produce any children.

Cause for the Dissolution of Marriage

In Connecticut, judges must also consider what caused the marriage to end. If one spouse is considered to be at fault under grounds such as adultery or abuse, the court will review the evidence and establish how much impact these actions had on the union. Then, they can decide whether or not to award financial support based on their findings and set the duration and amount of payments accordingly.

Financial Resources of Each Party

divorce lawyerBoth spouses are required to disclose their financial situation in a divorce, including income, assets, and debts. This plays a major part in the court’s ruling on alimony. This helps judges figure out the financial needs of each party and each person’s ability to make alimony payments. As such, it’s important to have a divorce lawyer ensure all relevant documents are submitted to the court for review.

Earning Capacity

Another essential factor is earning capacity, as this tells the court if one spouse is at a disadvantage when it comes to finding gainful employment. For example, one partner may have given up their job years ago to be the main caretaker for the family, making it hard for them to reenter the workforce and earn a decent wage.

It’s vital for divorce lawyers to present this kind of situation to the judge and give a compelling explanation of why their client isn’t able to support themselves.

 

If you’ve decided to end your marriage, trust the divorce lawyers at Greene Law PC to provide you with effective and compassionate representation. They’ll advise you of your rights to alimony and develop a strategy that properly shows the court what level of payment is appropriate for your particular circumstances. For more than 25 years, this firm has successfully handled a wide range of family law issues for residents throughout Hartford County, CT. Call (860) 676-1336 to schedule a free consultation or visit them online for more information on their areas of practice.

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