Financial support is often awarded to one party following a divorce. This award is known as alimony. Ensuring that a spouse with lower or no income can maintain a comfortable lifestyle post-divorce is the primary goal of traditional alimony, although modern spouses often agree on spousal support arrangements as part of a broader property division strategy.
People going through a divorce need to understand the various types of spousal support available to them. Courts consider several factors when deciding whether to award alimony during a litigated Arkansas divorce, including the length of the marriage, the receiving spouse’s financial need and the paying spouse’s income.
Types of alimony
In Arkansas, alimony is granted subject to three different classifications during litigated proceedings: temporary, rehabilitative and permanent. These three distinct forms of alimony are granted for various reasons and under different conditions:
- Temporary alimony. The courts may grant temporary alimony during the divorce process. A spouse receiving this kind of alimony is given financial support while the divorce is still proceeding. Usually, it takes care of pressing issues like living costs and court costs. Based on the particular requirements of the spouse receiving support, the court decides on the amount and duration.
- Rehabilitative alimony. The goal of rehabilitative alimony is to help a partner until they can sustain themselves. For example, when one spouse has supported the other’s profession or raised children and has been out of the workforce for an extended period of time, alimony of this sort is usually awarded. Rehabilitative alimony is often granted for a brief time and may pay for training or educational expenses.
- Permanent alimony is not very common. It is generally awarded in cases of lengthy marriages where one spouse is unable to support themselves due to reasons such as age, health problems or other significant factors. This type of financial support is typically paid until either spouse passes away, gets remarried, or starts living with a new partner.
Determining which type of alimony may apply to your divorce scenario can be tricky. This is just one of the many reasons why it makes good sense to seek assistance when crafting a property division strategy.