Illinois Spousal Maintenance Attorney
Libertyville Alimony Lawyer
Spousal maintenance, or what was once known as alimony, is an issue in many divorce cases, particularly those in which the parties have been married for many years. While spousal maintenance is not an automatic right, if it is appropriate for your situation, as your Illinois spousal maintenance attorney I will work hard to make sure that you receive what you deserve.
At the Law Office of Cynthia L. Lazar I have more than 20 years of experience in spousal maintenance. I will work with you to make certain that the spousal support ordered in your case is fair.
Achieving a Fair Spousal Maintenance Order
In Illinois, as in most states, there are no statutory alimony guidelines for a judge to apply. Instead, the courts evaluate requests for spousal support on a case-by-case basis. A number of factors are considered, including:
- The length of the marriage
- The standard of living of the couple during the marriage
- Each parties' ability to support themselves
- Future earning capacities
- Cost of education for a rehabilitating party
- Age and health of each party
In some cases, the non-wage earning spouse may need rehabilitative maintenance, support provided for a set number of months in order to help the party complete an educational program or get established in the workplace. With longer marriages, the courts will more likely order permanent spousal maintenance.
What is important to understand is that spousal maintenance is meant only for maintaining a reasonable standard of living. Accommodations may be made in the division of property that take into consideration the financial needs of a previously nonworking spouse as he or she prepares to re-enter the work force.
Other agreements may come into play, such as recognition of the need for a parent to stay at home for a period of time to tend to an infant or a child with special physical needs, or because of illness or disability of the spouse. I do promote collaborative law when seeking spousal maintenance, although I am, of course, ready to litigate on your behalf.
Contact Me
As your attorney, I will help you make certain that your support or maintenance order is a fair one. Contact me, a Libertyville alimony lawyer, for advice on spousal maintenance.