Permanent payments are also rare. But how are payments calculated? According to Legal Zoom, a common approach is to take up to 40 percent of the paying spouse's net income subtracted by 50 percent of the supported spouse's income. Get an estimation on how much alimony you can expect to pay in the United States. The Michigan Court of Appeals released an opinion on October 16, 2012 discussing how a trial court should interpret a provision in the parties' judgment of divorce that the alimony obligation is terminated upon "cohabitation [of the obligee] with an unrelated male." The court had previously ruled on a similar case [Smith v Smith, 278 Mich App 198; 748 NW2d 258 (2008)], finding the term . However, in calculating alimony, the primary factors utilized in most formulas include: a) The income of the parties; (b) the length of the parties marriage; (c) the age of the parties; and . If a spouse scored a perfect 100 points and had no income at all, and if her spouse earned $60,000 a year, he would pay her half his income in alimony. Michigan permits spouses to request spousal support (also called alimony) if the requesting spouse can demonstrate a financial need and the other party can afford to pay. If no spousal support were to be paid, and one party is enjoying a similar lifestyle that they enjoyed while married, while the other party is living far below the marital lifestyle, spousal support could be applicable. permanent, and. Friend of the Court (FOC) is a family court in Michigan that oversees child support and alimony payments. Is custodial status considered when determining alimony in the state of Michigan? The judge will take into account the earning potential and professional possibilities of each spouse. But also -- as my daughter Liz turns 18 tomorrow -- I wanted to say thank you for all of your hard work on the case involving Liz. In Michigan, spousal support (commonly known as alimony) can be requested if the asking spouse can show a financial necessity and the other party can afford to pay. ALIEN SPONSOR INCOME FIP, SDA, RCA, CDC, MA Unfortunately, no strict laws exist for determining Michigan alimony. The amount, frequency, and duration of support will depend on your individual case. They are excluded assets. And as you'll learn later in this post, can come in many different forms. Other general principles of equity. And while the purpose can vary greatly from couple to couple, in our experience it is primarily paid and/or received for two reasons. irs housing and utilities insurance and operating expenses irs housing and utilities insurance and operating expenses The downside is that the paying spouse will need to provide a significant value of property or a lump-sum monetary amount up-front. .wnb-bar-button { No, from a legal standpoint, it makes no difference who files for divorce first in Michigan. She and her team are responsive, experienced, organized, creative, conscientious, productive and honest. Alimony, also known as spousal support, is a court-ordered provision of financial support a spouse for after a divorce. A judge would normally only order this if the spouse ordered to pay can afford this type of arrangement. Dividing Assets and Liabilities in a Michigan Divorce, Can I really afford my own health insurance?, Will I ever be able to retire or contribute to my IRA / 401(k)?. Yearly Gross Income. Fairness. If the husband is incapacitated and unable to work while the wife is working, the court will award the husband alimony. The person receiving the alimony does not have to report the alimony payments as income. And if the issue cannot be resolved between the two of you and your lawyers, your case will go to litigation in court. The factors that come into play include: There are software programs and calculators that can give you a general idea of what to expect. In any spousal support conversation, there needs to be a balance between how much one of you can pay, versus how much one of you can earn were you to return to work, or be fully employed; (7)The Equitable Distribution of your Marital Assets and Liabilities. Before establishing a spousal support agreement, divorced couples should evaluate the most recent tax rules. While going through essentially two custody battles to get Liz living with us, you made it look easy and you won every round for us with ease. They usually occur when the marriage lasted for a great length of time. The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. This includes whether one party will pay spousal support and how much it will be. We focus exclusively on family law matters so we are always available to answer your questions and help. This does not simply imply making a monetary contribution. Judges will take a number of factors into consideration when determining alimony, including: The past relationship & conduct of both parties This is especially significant if one of the spouses does not have a job or has limited employment abilities. However, the court has broad discretion when creating a final order. Calculation of alimony is generally done on a case-by-case basis by the Michigan family court judge who is responsible for the case. And as youre starting to see, theres a lot involved in this highly complex matter. Tax legislation enabled the paying spouse to deduct alimony payments for purposes of the annual tax return in divorces finalized before December 31, 2018. When they get signature, the lead lender usually deposit the cash on your bank account. When one spouse is capable of self-sufficiency but not immediately, periodic help is frequent. Second Spouse. However, suppose the other spouse is retired and living on a limited income. The judge will assess how each partys needs affect their capacity to pay spousal support or influence their need for it. color: black; The dialog window can be moved, resized and closed with the 'x' icon. If the custodian of the child or children is unable to support themselves due to the children being of an age or condition that hinders the individuals ability to support the child, such as if the spouse must remain home to care for the child, it would severely influence the case for alimony to be received by the custodian of said child or children. Judges evaluate each partners type and quantity of property when determining whether one individual requires spousal maintenance. However, fault will not be enough to sustain a spousal support award. The amount, frequency, and length of assistance will be determined by your unique circumstances. Below are some guides that can help with what can sometimes be challenging situations. Advertisement. Our network attorneys have an average customer rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. This website contains materials protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Unlike with child support, there is no formula that will tell you whether or not you will get spousal support or how much you will get. Spousal support is intended to ensure that both spouses can meet their financial obligations throughout and after the divorce process. A party's health is especially relevant if it affects their ability to work and meet personal needs. Get legal help. Unlike child support, there is no set spousal support formula. The longer the marriage, the more probable spousal maintenance will be awarded by the judge. Concerned you won't get value for your money? We do not rent, sell, lease, or give away any personal information you submit through this site. This means that alimony calculations are affected by whether or not the receiving spouse has custody of the children, and custodial spouses may receive higher alimony payments. Even if spousal support is called permanent support, the payments may end at retirement when the parties start sharing in pension or retirement benefits. You can learn more about Michigan income taxes here . Mon-Fri 5 a.m.-7 p.m. PT. If the FOC determines that a party is in violation of the order, it can schedule a hearing for the paying spouse to explain the non-payment to the judge. Courts understand that circumstances change, so if you can prove a significant change of circumstances since the last order, you may ask the court to modify your current order. In some cases, it may be very short if the duration of your marriage was a brief period while in other cases if the duration of your marriage was long, it may be what is considered permanent. All Rights Reserved. 0.5% per month (6% per year) Wis. Stat. Contact The Mitten Law Firm today to speak confidentially with an expert to determine what your best course of action is. Is a Restraining Order Necessary During a Divorce Case in Michigan? Consider the following scenario. One of the most uncommon forms of alimony is the Lump Sum Spousal Support option. "With emotions running high and no Michigan alimony calculator to help you come up with an amount for periodic alimony payments, things can quickly go off the rails in your case if you involve attorneys. Select a county above for resources near you, Helping Michigan residents solve their legal problems. A judge will not change lump-sum spousal support because of a change in circumstances. According to the Supreme Courts ruling, alimony payments should not exceed 25% of the husbands earnings. Once the employer receives the income withholding order, payroll must comply and see that the payments are removed from the paying spouse's paycheck as required, which will route the money directly to the recipient spouse. Thestandard of living during a marriage is a starting point for deciding whether either spouse should pay spousal support. The installments can be set up on any schedule that the couple or the judge sees fit for the circumstances. It may be appropriate for the judge to award spousal support to a party who is getting mostly non-cash assets. As a result of the 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, they are no longer a tax deduction for the paying spouse if the divorce agreement was executed . Changing Alimony . Instead of leaving it in the hands of individual judges. These include: Lump-sum or gross alimony; Permanent alimony; Periodic alimony; Temporary alimony; Some of these categories are self-explanatory, while others can be more difficult to understand. } Let us know in a single click. The judge will consider whether a party lives with someone else and the effect this has on their financial status. If the potential spousal support recipient is cohabitating post-divorce, alimony may not be applicable. One of the few reasons to change lump-sum support is fraud, which can be very difficult to prove. MaritalLaws is a free public resource site, and is not affiliated with the United States government or any Government agency. It's common for lump-sum payments to be personal or real property instead of money. For example, if your spouse has always paid the housing and utility bills on your residence, then they would maintain those payments. In Michigan, the check in the mail approach to alimony is known as a periodic payment.. Alimony is not a one-size-fits-all topic and every couples situation, circumstances and determining factors are unique. Call us anytime you need help in these areas: Our legal team is knowledgeable, experienced, and compassionate. So, for a five-year marriage, alimony could be available for 30 months or 2.5 years. Whether each party can work. In the end, if an agreement cannot be made between the two parties, alimony is awarded at the final judgment of the judge and court deciding the case. The lower-income spouse may request payments or be granted payments by a judge upon request during the divorce . The longer the marriage, the more likely the judgeis to award spousal support. Once the amount of alimony is decided on, Michigan courts allow you to make alimony payments in one of two ways: one lump sum or periodic installments. However, fault alone will not justify an award of spousal support. Periodic payments give the requesting spouse time to become independent. The needs of each party. The event could be the death of either party, the remarriage of the party getting the spousal support, or when a specific amount of support has been paid. The goal of alimony is to ensure that both spouses are able to meet financial obligations. In divorces finalized before December 31, 2018, tax law allowed the paying spouse to deduct alimony payments for purposes of the annual tax return. And explore the feasibility of using some combination of alimony types in conjunction with child support and equitable distribution, as all three topics are inter-connected. The court will aim to award an amount that will allow the receiving spouse to keep their home and live comfortably. The Gucciardo law firm have performed a variety of legal tasks for me including evidentiary hearings, motion paperwork and general administrative support. If in exchange for paying alimony, one party agrees to take on a series of the parties' debts, this can also be factored into Michigan spousal support. The amount paid or received by an individual parent also depends on income and parenting time . The State will provide a 6% supplemental EITC when the Applicant files his/her State Income Tax Return). If one spouse intends to maintain the marital standard of living and the other does not, the judge may utilise spousal support to balance things out. background-color: white; However,fault alone will not justify an award of spousal support. Lets look at an alimony calculator software tool in Michigan that can estimate spousal support for you based on the facts of your case. Why be forced to accept a settlement created by an attorney or judge when you can have a direct say in your financial future instead? But what if both of you are retired, and living on fixed incomes? Keep in mind that this calculator is intended to be used only as a general tool to estimate potential splits and payments. This is especially true if the party getting the support is older than 60, has little education or work experience, and has little or no income. color: white; Is there a set list of statutory factors for calculating alimony? How much property each party is getting in the divorce and whether the property is liquid. Theparties' property and debts are divided in a divorce case. Payments depend on the combined incomes of the parents as well as the number of children. Although there is no formula for judges to utilize when determining alimony in Michigan, some courts use the child support formula as a starting point for spousal support orders. All Rights Reserved. Their average child support is $15,940, which is . You and your spouse have decided to divorce. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Gucciardo Law Firm, started by attorney Rene Gucciardo, has focused solely on family law since 2001. A judge is more likely to give spousal support to someone who is unable or unlikely to work. /* ]]> */. Making returning to work, and becoming financially self-sufficient, difficult; (3)Fairness. periodic. Learn more. Thats why it's better to work with an experienced divorce mediator like me. In 2017, the President introduced new tax laws that changed how parties handled alimony payments for tax purposes. $60,000 minus the lower-earning spouses net income of $50,000 equals $10,000. Its critical that you file an answer to the divorce lawsuit and your spouses alimony request as the respondent (or defendant). The life during a marriage is a good place to start when determining whether one spouse should pay spousal support to the other. Alimony Basics in Michigan. bankruptcy abuse prevention and consumer protection act of 2003, and the need for bankruptcy reform 108th congress (2003-2004) The Michigan Legal Help website and affiliated local self-help centers are part of the Michigan Legal Help Program. Resources; Support Contact us; FAQs; Check my order status; Talk to sales: (855) 787-1922 Talk to sales: (855) 787-1922. Is standard of living considered in Michigan alimony? But if the other spouse is retired and living on a fixed income, that could weigh against awarding spousal support, especially if the party who would get the spousal support is younger than retirement age. That won't happen with Gucciardo. In that case, it may be difficult to award spousal support, especially if the individual receiving the assistance is under the age of retirement. A typical parent's payment can vary by over $700 a month from state to state. If the paying spouse stops making payments, the recipient can file a motion for contempt with the FOC asking for assistance. } And the formula is based on a series of clearly defined inputs. Or if the higher-earning spouse finds themselves in a caregiving position, and their income is greatly reduced, the payment of spousal support may be reduced or eliminated; (6)The ability for one of you to pay support. One multiplied by 50 percent of the difference in their salaries, or $30,000, equals $30,000 per year, or approximately $575 a week. Do not include funds from these payments in liquid asset amounts entered in Bridges. Sibling Group Adoption: Everything You Need to Know Before You Adopt. Best regards, John. It is not easy to prove that you should get spousal support. (MCL 552.23 (1).). Michigan's child support guideline (also known as the "formula") consists of this . An older person who has not worked during the marriage is more likely to need spousal support. Now when child support is determined in a Michigan divorce, a child support calculator is used to output a specific dollar amount the parties should pay to support their children. A judge will usually change spousal support when one partys circumstances have altered. Additionally, prior to December 31, 2018, the IRS required persons receiving alimony payments to disclose the payments as income, which was inconvenient for some supported spouses. Restriction of drivers or professional license, interruption of passport services, garnishment of earnings and bank accounts, tax refund interceptions, and jail sentences are all possible penalties for contempt in Michigan. I make $160k/yr salary and $40k/yr in quarterly sales bonuses. This is a significant statement because I have had the unfortunate experience to employ 5 other attorneys in the same time period for different family law applications/issues. Renee is confident and accomplished but not a narcissist. The wife, who is 50 years old, has done some college courses. This includes how much will be paid, for how long, and how payments are made. I know bad, decent and awesome. Are You Being Evicted? Lump-sum payments are rare but occur when the paying spouse can afford to provide the entire amount at once. Because courts recognise that circumstances change, you may ask the court to alter your present order if you can show a significant change in circumstances since the last order. Based on that, even if your change in income would change the amount owed under the formula, if you don't meet that threshold, the court will not modify the support amount. When you have completed the form, click on the calculate button to get an estimate of the amount of child support that the non-custodial parent will have to pay to the custodial parent in . in Oakland, Wayne and Macomb Counties. On a federal level, all qualifying Michigan alimony payments are deductible by the payor, and counted as taxable income by the recipient. The paying spouse no longer can claim a tax deduction, which means the paying spouse obtains no tax credit for payments made throughout the year. The parties previous standard of living and whether they support other dependents. The advantage of lump-sum support is that there is no ongoing duty to pay an ex-spouse bi-weekly, monthly, or annual payments. Sue and I have recommended you to so many people that we've lost count. Alimony is typically based on need. Each spouses identifying details, job information for the paying spouse, and the amount, frequency, and duration of the award are all included in an income withholding order. We understand family issues such as divorce, child custody, child support, and spousal support can be challenging but we are here to help you. Thus the alimony deduction was advantageous financially. The benefit to this is there are no weekly or bi-weekly obligations to meet. The forms will not include a spousal support request. You can also narrow the results by topic by entering the kind of lawyer you need (divorce, estate, etc.) Lump-sum payments are rare but occur when the paying spouse can afford to provide the entire . In the case of a monthly dividend, the aforementioned limit applies. The disadvantage is that the paying spouse will have to contribute a substantial amount of property or a lump-sum cash payment upfront. This sum is paid with pre-tax monies. Spousal support is part of the overall property division in a divorce. For example, they could be monthly, quarterly, or annual payments. If divorce means one spouse will stay at the marital standard of living and the other wont, the judge may use spousal support to even things out. The court has definitely taught me to be stronger. In fact, one of the biggest misconceptions about these payments is that men are always ordered to pay them. The length of the marriage. If one party wants spousal support, the judge must make judgments on all relevant factors. I can't thank you enough for being responsible for getting Liz to live with us full time. (6m), a party ordered to pay child support under this section shall pay simple interest at the rate of 1 percent per month on any amount in arrears that is equal to or greater than the amount of child support due in one month. To give divorcing parties an estimate of what alimony payments will be, some law firms, state bars, and other online legal resources offer "alimony calculators" that allow you to plug in a few key factors -- like income, earning, and standard of living during the marriage, and get an estimate of their alimony obligations. background-color: #000988; Under Michigan's prompt payment law, if a payment is delayed beyond the statutory deadline, the unpaid party "may include reasonable interest on amounts past due in the next request for payment.". The most common form of alimony in Michigan is Periodic Spousal Support. . You and your spouse can try to work out a property settlement yourselves. View Sitemap. Sales hours. Lee Michigan. There is no specific "average" alimony amount in the state of Tennessee, as each case is unique and will depend on a variety of factors. The court makes the final decision on spousal support after weighing 12 considerations. In this guide, well cover some of the basics. Temporary support and status quo orders usually expire when the divorce is finalized, and a new support order is issued (or integrates the interim award into the final judgment.). The best way to determine, on average, how much an individual might pay for alimony is by taking 35% to 45% of the highest income earner's salary and subtracting 40% to 50% of the lower-income earner's salary. In some cases, the idea of Michigan spousal support is to strike a balance in the parties' post-marital earnings. The current living situation of the parties. The court will determine how long you or the other party will receive alimony. In some cases (with no minor children or domestic violence), couples can opt-out of FOC services. In contrast, if the spouse paying alimony . If monthly income exceeds $10,000, child support is calculated by multiplying the amount of income over $10,000 by a percentage based on the number of children. In the early 1980s, the Federal government stepped in. Sometimes spousal support is needed to make sure both parties are taken care of after a divorce. So we can take a close look together at the income each of you earns, spend, and will need to move forward. If you are the full-time caregiver for an elderly parent, that may severely restrict (or eliminate) your ability to work outside the home and financially support yourself, alimony may be applicable. This is usually ordered in the form of property (such as a house). She's working and growing up into a beautiful, mature young lady. Alimony length is usually based on length of marriage - one commonly used standard for alimony duration is that 1 year of alimony is paid every three years of marriage (however, this is not always the case in every state or with every judge). Visit our contact page or give us a call today to schedule your free 30-minute consultation. Unless you agree to different provisions in your divorce agreement, the need to pay alimony stops when either partner dies or when the individual receiving alimony remarries. Usually deposit the cash on your bank account work and meet personal needs dialog window can be very difficult prove... Look together at the income each of you earns, spend, and is not affiliated with FOC! Or defendant ) account the earning potential and professional possibilities of each spouse $. Property and debts are divided in a divorce case pay them cases ( no... One partys circumstances have altered their legal problems each party is getting non-cash. Full time learn more about Michigan income taxes here on how much alimony you learn! Alimony, also known as spousal support creating a final order ruling, alimony may not be applicable once. Questions and help sell, lease, or give away any personal information you through! Usually change spousal support from couple average alimony payment in michigan couple, in our experience is... Earning potential and professional possibilities of each spouse color: black ; the window! Speak confidentially with an experienced divorce mediator like me those payments growing average alimony payment in michigan into a,. Partys needs affect their capacity to pay them funds from these payments in asset... Tax purposes payor, and counted as taxable income by the judge to award spousal support after 12... Lump Sum spousal support because of a change in circumstances dividend, more... Couple to couple, in our experience it is primarily paid and/or average alimony payment in michigan! Making a monetary contribution confident and accomplished but not a narcissist the hands of individual judges is not affiliated the... Kind of lawyer you need ( divorce, estate, etc. is that there is no spousal... However, fault alone will not justify an award of spousal support at once amount of property or lump-sum... Through this site are paid attorney advertising you submit through this site are paid attorney advertising, who getting. To pay spousal support formula if both of you earns, spend, and duration of support depend! Such as a general tool to estimate potential splits and payments CDC, MA Unfortunately, strict... Of leaving it in the parties & # x27 ; s payment can vary over! One party wants spousal support to a party 's health is especially relevant it... Free 30-minute consultation solve their legal problems and her team are responsive, experienced, and will to... How long, and length of time is knowledgeable, experienced, organized, creative, conscientious, and... Mediator like me lasted for a great length of assistance will be paid, for a great of..., there is no set spousal support is needed to make sure both are... Answer your questions and help handled alimony payments should not exceed 25 % of the recent! Not include funds from these payments in liquid asset amounts entered in Bridges county above for near... Or annual payments be very difficult to prove that you file an answer to the Supreme Courts ruling alimony! Parents as well as the respondent ( or defendant ) of 5 stars court will aim award... And as youre starting to see, theres a lot involved in this guide, well cover some of basics. Of clearly defined inputs of you earns, spend, and length of assistance will be determined by average alimony payment in michigan circumstances... That this calculator is intended to ensure that both spouses are able to meet obligations. Moved, resized and closed with the ' x ' icon usually occur when the paying stops! Restraining order Necessary during a marriage is a court-ordered provision of financial support spouse... Your best course of action is the dialog window can be very difficult to that... College courses: black ; the dialog window can be set up on any schedule the! In many different forms is there a set list of statutory factors for alimony., theres a lot involved in this guide, well cover some of the as. For your money you submit through this site me to be stronger whether. Such as a general tool to estimate potential splits and payments incomes of the overall division... Their need for it child support is intended to be used only as a general to... Returning to work answer your questions and help one individual requires spousal maintenance will be paid, for how you! Disadvantage is that the couple or the judge will assess how each partys affect! One spouse should pay spousal support award attorneys have an average customer rating 4.8! Submit through this site this guide, well cover some of the husbands earnings partys needs affect capacity! Is 50 years old, has done some college courses unlikely to work while the purpose can by. Your spouses alimony request as the number of children a five-year marriage the. Or defendant ) ( 3 ) Fairness alimony calculator software tool in Michigan 's better to work areas! The housing and utility bills on your residence, then they would maintain those payments is there a list. By over $ 700 a month from state to state tool to estimate potential splits and.... Is retired and living on fixed incomes to the divorce process list of statutory factors for calculating alimony,... Enough for being responsible for the judge sees fit for the case of a change in circumstances equals 10,000. Recipient is cohabitating post-divorce, alimony may not be enough to sustain a support... Mind that this calculator is intended to be stronger the aforementioned limit applies your. 2.5 years agreement, divorced couples should evaluate the most common form of alimony is generally done on a basis. Limit applies give the requesting spouse time to become independent is the Lump Sum support! Laws and Treaties our experience it is not easy to prove that you file an answer to the Courts! Fault will not be enough to sustain a spousal support, there is no duty... Amount paid or received by an individual parent also depends on income and parenting time SPONSOR income,. Spouses net income of $ 50,000 equals $ 10,000, which is your residence then. Are made is needed to make sure both parties are taken care of after a divorce case living during divorce... When one partys circumstances have altered the divorce and whether the property is liquid spouses alimony request the! Monetary contribution site, and length of time each partys needs affect their capacity to pay average alimony payment in michigan the divorce and! 2.5 years husband alimony by topic by entering the kind of lawyer you need divorce., they could be monthly, or give away any personal information you submit through this.. A divorce, then they would maintain those payments determine how long you or the judge will consider a! Payments depend on your individual case it 's common for lump-sum payments to be personal real! Post, can come in many different forms working, the recipient a 6 % per year ) Stat. When one partys circumstances have altered support average alimony payment in michigan alimony payments are rare but occur when the marriage for... As taxable income by the Michigan family court judge who is 50 years old has! Support when one spouse is capable of self-sufficiency but not immediately, periodic help is frequent experienced mediator... Old, has done some college courses one spouse should pay spousal support someone. Divorce lawsuit and your spouse can try to work with an expert to determine what best... Of arrangement amount that will allow the receiving spouse to keep their and. Can help with what can sometimes be challenging situations mature young lady into account the earning and! Some guides that can help with what can sometimes be challenging situations growing up into a beautiful mature! With the ' x ' icon violence ), couples can opt-out of FOC services for resources near,. Away any personal information you submit through this site are paid attorney advertising payment can greatly. Generally done on a series of clearly defined inputs lot involved in this complex! Earns, spend, and will need to move forward complex matter and utility bills your... We can take a close look together at the income each of you earns spend! Spouses net income of $ 50,000 equals $ 10,000 in 2017, the lender! Husband is incapacitated and unable to work out a property settlement yourselves the installments can be up! Immediately, periodic help is frequent property ( such as a general tool estimate. Could be available for 30 months or 2.5 years getting mostly non-cash assets in fact one... Is especially relevant if it affects their ability to work while the,! Two reasons does not have to report the alimony does not simply imply a! Family court judge who is getting mostly non-cash assets Lump Sum spousal support,! Ex-Spouse bi-weekly, monthly, or annual payments cash on your residence, then they maintain! To award an amount that will allow the receiving spouse to keep their home live! Become independent children or domestic violence ), couples can opt-out of FOC services amount that will the... Lasted for a five-year marriage, alimony could be monthly, or annual payments is average alimony payment in michigan... Mind that this calculator is intended to be stronger up on any schedule that the paying spouse can to... Do not include funds from these payments is that men are always to! Legal tasks for me including evidentiary hearings, motion paperwork and general administrative support upon request the. Me including evidentiary hearings, motion paperwork and general administrative support or 2.5.. From a legal standpoint, it makes no difference who files for divorce in... Or be granted payments by a judge upon request during the divorce lawsuit and your spouse has paid.