The financial implications of divorce are enormous. If you improperly navigate the property division process, then you could be left without the financial resources needed to build your post-divorce life. Yet, the division of marital assets isn’t the only financially related issue that you have to address in your marriage dissolution. Spousal support can also play a significant role. If you’re successful in securing alimony, then you can rest easy knowing that you have a financial buffer to keep you afloat while you focus on becoming self-sufficient. This can take a lot of pressure off your shoulders.
But how can you make a convincing argument for alimony? It’s a legitimate question that you need to answer before stepping into your divorce, since you’ll probably need persuasive evidence if you want to convince your spouse to agree to spousal support during settlement negotiations or if you want to persuade a judge to rule in your favor on the issue in court. So, let’s take a closer look at what can be done to build and strengthen your case for spousal support.
How to build an effective case for alimony
When building your case for spousal support, it’s important to keep in mind that the goal in most instances is to give you a financial lifeline until you become self-sufficient while allowing you to enjoy the standard of living that existed during your marriage. Therefore, as you prepare your alimony arguments, you should be sure to address the following:
- The marital standard of living: You want the court to take a comprehensive look at the standard of living you enjoyed during your marriage. And this is critical, as it could dictate how much support you end up receiving. So, be sure to gather evidence that paints a clear picture for the court. Where you lived, what you drove, how you shopped and the frequency with which you took vacations can all be relevant here.
- Your sacrifices: To succeed in securing spousal support, you’ll have to show that you’re at a financial disadvantage moving into your post-divorce life. This is most easily established by showing that you gave up your education or career to either support your spouse or raise your children. Don’t feel like you’re simply piling on when you list your sacrifices. The more you can demonstrate here the better positioned you’ll be to recover the support you deserve.
- Your spouse’s ability to pay: The court isn’t going to issue an order on alimony that forces your spouse to become destitute. So, you’ll need to present evidence that shows their ability to pay the support that you’re seeking. You might find this evidence by simply requesting or subpoenaing records from your spouse.
- Parenting obligations: Although child support should help you cover some of the costs of raising your children if you’re the custodial parent, it may not be enough. In that case, you may want to reiterate your parental obligations when it comes time to argue for alimony.
Don’t lose out on the financial support that you need
The outcome of your divorce can have a tremendous impact on your short and long-term financial positioning. That’s why it’s imperative that you know how to develop a divorce legal strategy that puts you on the path to a fair financial outcome. There’s a lot that goes into that, of course, which is why now is the time to start gathering evidence and developing your legal arguments. By putting in that work now, you’ll hopefully protect your future in a way that allows you to build the post-divorce life that you want.