Trustworthy Alimony Attorneys In Westport, Connecticut Assisting With Spousal Support

If you’ve decided to dissolve your marriage, you’re probably wondering what the future holds. One area where there’s often a great deal of uncertainty is finance, and one issue that’s potentially important is alimony. Whether you anticipate paying or receiving spousal support, it’s important to come away with a fair and workable order that upholds your rights. At MeehanLaw, LLC, our divorce attorneys have been serving Westport clients for more than 60 years. We know that details lead to results, so we assemble the facts necessary to make a compelling case for a fair order that secures your rights and safeguards your future.

How Alimony Works In Connecticut

In Connecticut, alimony is based on the duty to continue supporting a dependent spouse. So, if during the marriage, one spouse has become financially dependent on the other and requires support to maintain the standard of living enjoyed during the marriage, that dependent spouse is entitled to ask the court for alimony.

Temporary alimony, also called pendente lite, is awarded during the divorce process and terminates automatically when the divorce is finalized. Permanent alimony is spousal support the court awards in the divorce decree. It is generally reserved for marriages of long duration or where the dependent spouse is not capable of becoming self-supporting. A court can order permanent alimony for a set period of years to enable the dependent spouse to become independent or the payments may be lifelong.

A court can order a supporting spouse to make periodic payments, usually on a monthly basis. In some cases, alimony can be settled for a single lump-sum payment.

Alimony terminates automatically upon the death of either spouse or the remarriage of the recipient spouse. Courts can require a supporting spouse to secure life insurance to benefit the recipient spouse.

What Factors Do Courts Use In Determining Alimony?

When deciding the amount and duration of alimony, courts in Connecticut must examine a long list of statutory factors, which include:

  • The number of years the couple was married
  • Whether one party’s marital misconduct caused the divorce
  • The age and health of each party
  • Factors that determine each party’s earning ability, such as their occupations, the amount and sources of their income, earning capacity, vocational skills, education and employability
  • Each party’s assets
  • The relative needs of the spouses
  • The division of marital property and child support obligations, if any
  • The pros and cons of employment for a spouse with custody of minor children

Courts in Connecticut want to make sure that divorce does not unjustly enrich one spouse while inflicting unnecessary financial hardship on the other. As your family law advocates, we present a detailed financial picture that fully illustrates your rights in the dispute. Over the course of many decades, our focused and painstaking preparation has led to consistently positive results.

Modifying Orders For Alimony In Westport, Connecticut

Connecticut family law allows either party to request a modification of an alimony order if there has been a substantial change in circumstances. A supporting spouse can request a reduction if a financial reversal has created an inability to pay or the recipient no longer has a demonstrable need for support. It is very difficult for a recipient to get an upward modification of support unless there is evidence that the supporting spouse misrepresented finances during the divorce and that misrepresentation led to an order that was unfairly low. We assist clients in seeking modifications as well as those opposing them.

Contact A Dedicated Alimony Lawyer In Westport For A Initial Consultation

MeehanLaw, LLC, advises Westport residents on alimony issues during and after divorce. Please call 203-989-2949 or contact us online to make an appointment for a consultation at our Westport office.