Features Of Rehabilitative Alimony

Rehabilitative alimony is supposed to help you get back on your feet, financially speaking, after your divorce. Below are some of the things you need to do to get rehabilitative alimony. 

Show Your Need

Not everyone will get rehabilitative alimony upon divorce. For you to get rehabilitative alimony, you must prove that you need it. In practice, this means showing to the court that you don't have the means to take care of yourself after divorce and that you need help to rehabilitate yourself financially so that you can take care of yourself again.

You may also be required to prove why your partner should help you rehabilitate yourself financially. Traditionally, rehabilitative alimony has been awarded to spouses who contributed to their marital resources or gave up their careers to take care of the family.

Have a Plan

You also need to present a plan on how you intend to handle the rehabilitation. Do you plan to go back to school, get a certification, or start a business? Have you reviewed the industry and have projections on its future prospects? These are some of the questions you need to answer. You can't just request for money to rehabilitate yourself without showing how you will use the money and how it will help you. The court will only award the alimony if it is satisfied with your plans and projection.

Show Your Partner's Ability

Even if you present a good case for your rehabilitative alimony, you might not get the money if your partner doesn't have it. You may need to show that your partner has the ability to pay what you are asking for. Maybe the court only knows about your partner's day job, but they also have a side business that also earns them some good money.

Show Good Faith

In most cases, you need a plan that shows the projected timeline of your financial rehabilitation, plus its end date. Maybe you need the money for four years to finish your higher education or for three years as you get your business off the ground. The date isn't usually fixed in stone, however, and you may be able to extend it if there is sufficient need of the same.

If you aren't careful, however, then the court might terminate your rehabilitative alimony payments prematurely. This can happen if the court is convinced that you are not holding your part of the bargain. An example is if you are not using your rehabilitative money for the intended money. For example, you might lose your rehabilitative alimony payments if you are touring the world and not going to school, as indicated in your original plan.

Reach out to a firm like Hugh O. Allen Law Offices to learn more.

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