Spousal-Support-Alimony

Nashville Attorney Lisa Ewing

How will a divorce affect me financially?

SPOUSAL SUPPORT/ALIMONY

Nashville, Tennessee, Attorney Experienced in Handling Alimony and Spousal Support
Spousal support, or alimony as it is commonly called, often gets a bad reputation. Many people look at it as just one more way for one spouse to take money from the other. In reality, alimony is a means to help couples transition from shared income to separate income. It offers the financial support a person needs to get back on his or her feet after depending on the finances of the other spouse for so long.


alimony

At the Ewing Law Office LLC, we represent both those who are seeking spousal support as well as those who would be required to pay it. Our goal is to determine an appropriate amount of support to provide for the disadvantaged spouse without putting a financial strain on the payor spouse.

As a Nashville attorney experienced in handling alimony cases, Lisa Millican Ewing has worked through these issues on several occasions. She will be happy to discuss your situation and options with you in an initial consultation. Contact us to schedule an appointment.

Types of Spousal Support

There are four types of spousal support. We can effectively guide you through your divorce and help determine which type of spousal support best meets your needs:

  • Alimony in futuro: This is the type of alimony most people think of when going through a divorce. One spouse receives a certain amount of support until he or she remarries or passes away. The courts are moving away from this type of alimony, except in limited circumstances.
  • Transitional alimony: In transitional alimony, the courts award support to the receiving spouse for a period of two to five years, just long enough for him or her to transition to living on a separate income. The support helps provide funds for the receiving spouse to set up a new household, such as paying for health insurance and replacing marital assets.
  • Rehabilitative alimony: This type of alimony is generally awarded when one spouse was a stay-at-home parent or had a significantly lower paying job than the other spouse. The support allows the receiving spouse to obtain additional job and career skills and/or education in order to obtain a lifestyle similar to that during the marriage.
  • Periodic alimony: In periodic alimony, the court sets a specific amount to be paid out over a set time. Periodic alimony often is awarded in conjunction with a property division agreement. For example, business assets that are part of marital property are subject to division during a divorce. However, it is not feasible to sell the business in order to pay the other spouse. The spouse keeping the business may pay periodic alimony until the other spouse receives his or her share of the assets.

Tennessee lawyer Lisa Millican Ewing will sit down with you to discuss which type of alimony, if any, is best for your situation. Her background in accounting is a valuable asset in determining a reasonable amount and duration of spousal support.

Spousal Support Modifications

In certain circumstances, spousal support judgments can be modified either up or down. The person seeking the modification will need to show clear evidence as to why the amount should be increased or decreased depending on a significant change in financial or living circumstances. Rehabilitative and in futuro alimony can be modified this way, and in limited circumstances transitional alimony. Periodic alimony cannot be modified because the amount is predetermined and set by the courts. We can assess your situation and help you seek a modification, or challenge a modification, to serve your interests.

Contact Our Law Firm for Your Family Law Needs

If you have questions regarding spousal support or alimony in a divorce, contact our law offices to speak with our Nashville alimony attorney. We offer initial phone or office consultations. Same-day, evening, and weekend appointments are available at our office, which is conveniently located one block from the Davidson County historic courthouse. Our fees are reasonable and based upon the Tennessee Supreme Court rules. We accept credit cards for our services.