Alimony/Spousal Support

Alimony is understood by most as one spouse paying the other spouse money after a divorce, or temporarily while the divorce action is pending. Alimony is not awarded or available to individuals who have never been married. Conceptually, and as a general rule, it appears that all women believe they are entitled to alimony and most men don’t understand why they should have to pay it. There is no formula that can be looked to in calculating alimony. Generally, alimony can be ordered to continue for the length of the marriage. Alimony will terminate upon the marriage of the receiving party, the cohabitation of the receiving party or the death of either party.

Determining alimony is complex and is the subject of much dispute and debate during a divorce action. Most married couples are just “scraping by” and divorce creates a situation where the parties are called upon to try to mathematically determine how to support two households when they were struggling to support one household. The numbers will never add up and there is usually not enough money to go around, especially after child support is thrown into the calculation.

So, what to do?

The Utah Family Law Firm of Jolley & Jolley takes a firm position that mothers must contribute financially to the care of their children, which means getting a job. There are solutions, but it is usually difficult, if not impossible, to make both parties happy.

The Fathers Rights Attorneys at Jolley & Jolley will strive to equal the playing field when it comes to alimony.