Four ways to maximize your chances of receiving alimony

The financial implications of your divorce can be significant. The property division process alone can leave you without many of the assets you’ve come to rely upon, and your retirement accounts can be depleted to the point that you’re unsure if you’ll be able to replenish them in time.

With all these stressors weighing on you, it can be difficult to figure out how you’re going to get by once your divorce is finalized. Although you can create a post-divorce budget and find ways to cut costs, another option to fully consider is seeking spousal support.

Increasing your chances of recovering alimony

There are several types of alimony. Some are meant to be rehabilitative in nature, meaning that they’re intended to give you support until you become self-sufficient, while others are meant to be long-term in nature. The type of support that you seek will depend on the facts of your case, but in all instances there are steps that you can take to maximize your chances of recovering the support that you need and deserve. This includes doing the following:

• Show your sacrifices: Keep in mind that a lot of alimony orders focus on giving you a fair shot at becoming self-sufficient after relying on your spouse’s income for so long. So, if you can show that you gave up your career to raise your children or to support your spouse’s education or career, then you’ll be in a stronger position to argue for spousal support.
• Demonstrate the marital standard of living: When issuing a spousal support order, the court will seek to provide each party with the resources needed to enjoy the standard of living that existed during the marriage. Therefore, it’s in your interests to show every beneficial aspect of your marriage, from the home you lived in to the car you drove, the frequency with which you shopped and dined out, and the types of vacations that you took. The more extravagant or fanciful a lifestyle you can show, the better off you’ll be arguing for the alimony you deserve.
• Highlight your spouse’s financial resources: The court won’t order spousal support if your spouse can’t realistically pay it. But if your spouse has significant income, then you’ll want to present that to the court so that the judge can see your spouse’s capacity to pay. If you sense that your spouse is hiding information from you or is lying about their income, then you’ll need to dig deeper into their financial records, using the subpoena power if necessary.
• Lean on your parenting obligations: If you end up the custodial parent in your custody dispute, then you may be in a stronger position to recover alimony in addition to child support. This is because caring for your children might be a full-time job that restricts your ability to work and become self-sufficient.

Advocate for the financial support that you need post-divorce

Getting on your feet after divorce is going to take time, effort, and financial resources. You don’t want to be left struggling to figure out how you’re going to make ends meet once your divorce is finalized. So, as you develop your divorce legal strategy, carefully consider how alimony comes into play and how you can gather evidence to best support your position. By diligently building your case, you’ll hopefully maximize your chances of recovering the financial resources needed to bring your vision of your post-divorce life into reality.