Alimony

People starting a new life after a marriage ends need the support of friends, family and others to get through what can be a very challenging time. They may also need financial assistance from their spouse. In many divorces, where one spouse may have sacrificed income and earning potential to provide the invaluable gift of raising a family, that spouse may need additional economic resources to start his or her new life. Alimony, also called spousal support, can be awarded in an Iowa divorce to help a spouse get on their feet or compensate them for the sacrifices they may have made during the marriage that allowed the other spouse to build their career.

For those seeking spousal support or those from whom alimony is requested, the divorce and family law firm of Simpson Legal Group, LLC in Council Bluffs can help establish and maintain spousal support arrangements that are fair and allow both parties to move forward with their lives.

What is Alimony in an Iowa Divorce?

There are three types of alimony that can be awarded in an Iowa divorce; which kind of support will be awarded, as well as the amount and duration of such support, is determined by evaluating many factors established by Iowa law.

• Rehabilitative alimony. As the name implies, this type of support involves supporting one spouse for a limited time to allow them to get themselves back into the workforce so they can become self-supporting. This can include job training or additional education.
• Reimbursement alimony. This type of support is taken from the future earning capacity of the working spouse, which was facilitated by the sacrifices made by the other spouse during the marriage.
• Traditional alimony. This is a long-term and often permanent award of alimony designed to provide a spouse with support and resources comparable to what they would have received if the marriage endured.

How is the Amount and Duration of Alimony Calculated in Iowa?

An Iowa judge will weigh a number of factors in determining whether alimony will be awarded and if so, how much and for how long. These factors include:

• The length of the marriage.
• The age and physical and emotional health of the parties.
• The distribution of property in the divorce.
• The educational level of each party at the time of marriage and at the time the action is commenced.
• The earning capacity of the party seeking maintenance, including educational background, training, employment skills, work experience, length of absence from the job market, responsibilities for children under either an award of custody or physical care, and the time and expense necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party to find appropriate employment.
• The feasibility of the party seeking maintenance becoming self-supporting at a standard of living reasonably comparable to that enjoyed during the marriage, and the length of time necessary to achieve this goal.
• The tax consequences to each party.
• Any mutual agreement made by the parties concerning financial or service contributions by one party with the expectation of future reciprocation or compensation by the other party.
• The provisions of an antenuptial agreement.

Simpson Legal Group, LLC: Council Bluffs Alimony Lawyer

Divorce is hard enough; going through the process while struggling with finances or wondering how you will support yourself now and in the future can make it even more unsettling. At Simpson Legal Group, LLC, we help our clients get the resources they need to rebuild their lives during and after a divorce, including spousal support. Please give us a call at (712) 256-9899 to arrange for a consultation.