Alimony Spousal Support

Philadelphia Spousal Support Lawyer

If you file for divorce in the Philadelphia area, one of the various issues you may have to deal with is the issue of alimony or spousal support. The amount of spousal support that is paid based on Pennsylvania family law and takes into consideration several factors.

If you have questions or concerns regarding alimony payments or spousal support contact a skilled and experienced Philadelphia alimony attorney.

Contact the Philadelphia Spousal Support Lawyers at Jensen Bagnato, P.C. They are here to help you, to protect your rights and make sure you get the full and fair amount of alimony you are entitled to per Pennsylvania spousal support law.

Pennsylvania Alimony And Spousal Support Laws

Per PA law the courts may award spousal support even if the parties are not divorcing. Once a divorce petition is final, the action is a request for permanent alimony. Several factors are taken into consideration when determining how much spousal support, interim alimony or permanent alimony will be paid. The primary factors are each parties annual, taxable income and reasonable monthly expenses.

The longer a marriage lasts the longer the alimony terms and the higher the amount to be paid. For instance, if you were married in excess of 20 years you may be subject to lifetime alimony payments. If the marriage was less than 20 years, the alimony period is half the length of the marriage.

In the event you have children, alimony and child support payments are deducted from one another. This prevents you from either receiving or making double payments. Temporary alimony or spousal support is awarded from the date of physical separation and is adjusted retroactively once a final amount is determined.

What Is The Duration of Alimony In Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, courts may mandate that alimony payments continue for a reasonable period of time depending on the circumstances. The order may have an end date, or it may be an ongoing order with no particular end date. The court may review and change the order if the circumstances change.

A Pennsylvania alimony order will end automatically should any of the following occur:

  • The spouse receiving the alimony gets remarried
  • The spouse receiving the alimony is living with a person of the opposite sex who is not a family member
  • The spouse receiving alimony dies, or
  • The spouse paying alimony dies, unless the order or agreement says that it will continue

Modification of Alimony and Spousal Support

If the there are significant and ongoing changes in one of the spouse’s circumstances, a spouse may file a motion to modify (change) the spousal support or alimony order. For example, if one of the spouses has a significant change of income or becomes disabled, the court may modify spousal support because of changed circumstances.

Factors Involved In Alimony Modification

Contrary to popular belief in Pennsylvania the courts may award spousal support or alimony. Several factors are taken into consideration when determining how much spousal support will be paid. The primary factors are each parties’ annual, taxable income and reasonable monthly expenses. The state of Pennsylvania allows for spousal support orders to be modified at any time. However, just because it is requested does not mean that the request will be granted. The same factors that were taken into account when it was initially ordered are taken into account when a modification is requested. Factors that may warrant an alimony modification can be:

  • Change in employment status of either party
  • The receiving party remarries
  • Change in living arrangement or cohabitation status of one party
  • Changes in taxable income for either party
  • Significant changes in reasonable monthly expenses of either party

Contact A Philadelphia Alimony Law Attorney To Arrange A Consultation

With many years experience handling divorce cases let the family law attorneys at The Law Office of Erik B. Jensen put their negotiation and family law litigation experience to work for you. They offer focused spousal support and general family law representation throughout Philadelphia County, Delaware County, Chester County, Bucks County and Montgomery County.