Whether you are male or female, if you have been married for a significant period of time and are now divorcing, you may have to pay your former spouse alimony in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Here is a brief explanation of what alimony in Oklahoma is and how it is determined.
What is Alimony?
Alimony, also called “spousal support,” is a court order requiring financial support to be given by one spouse to another. This support is a remedy for the financial disparity that may exist between spouses after they divorce.
There are basically two forms of spousal support available: spousal maintenance and alimony in Stillwater.
Spousal Maintenance
Spousal maintenance is financial support ordered by the court to be paid by one spouse to the other while the Payne County divorce proceedings are taking place. This means from the time you file for divorce until the final divorce decree is issued, one party will provide temporary financial assistance to the other party.
Alimony in Stillwater
Alimony in Stillwater is financial support awarded in the final divorce decree to be paid by one spouse to the other, in money or property, after the divorce is finalized. It is ongoing for a specified length of time.
The amount and duration of alimony is usually determined by the court. These decisions are based on a number of factors, including how long you were married, the age of each spouse, your individual incomes, and a spouse’s ability to find a job and be self-sufficient.
It is usually ordered to be paid in monthly installments, but it may also be ordered in the form of a one lump-sum payment. The terms of alimony payments may be agreed upon by you and your spouse, or you can leave it up to the court to decide.
How Alimony is Determined
In determining alimony in Stillwater, Oklahoma courts will take into consideration a variety of different factors, chiefly the length of the marriage and the spouses’ individual abilities to support themselves.
The duration of alimony will be determined based on what the court considers to be fair and reasonable under the circumstances and the length of time it will take for the receiving spouse to become self-supporting.
Alimony in Stillwater can also be awarded on a short-term basis to give the receiving spouse time to prepare financially for the separation. Then again, the court may award alimony on a long-term or even lifelong basis if the needs of the receiving spouse require it.
Modifying Alimony
Unless either spouse dies, the receiving party remarries or begins to cohabit with a person of the opposite sex, alimony in Stillwater typically cannot be terminated prior to the period defined in the court order.
Either party can request a modification of the terms of the alimony, but must be able to show that there have been significant changes in material circumstances that call for an adjustment of the terms. For example, an increase or decrease in the income or living expenses of either spouse can be grounds for a modification of the terms of the alimony.
Initial Strategy Session: Stillwater Divorce Attorney
For more information on your obligation to pay alimony in Stillwater or your right to receive alimony, contact us today. Feel secure in the knowledge that your Stillwater attorney and our skilled associates stay current on Oklahoma divorce law. We also strive to keep you current on developments in your case.
Whether your case requires a courtroom confrontation or an out-of-court resolution through firm negotiation, contact a Stillwater divorce attorney today for a initial consultation.
Simply call 405-673-1600 or submit the question for the Stillwater attorney using the form at the top right of this page.
