Skokie Spousal Support Lawyer

Aggressive & Effective Legal Advocacy for Your Needs

If you are going through a divorce, you might be facing financial stress. If you are the spouse who will be receiving spousal support, you might be worried about how you will make ends meet. If you are the spouse who will be paying support, you might be facing financial hardships. Either way, you need a lawyer who is experienced in handling spousal support matters in Cook County, Illinois. Attorney Jonathan Merel can help.

At the Law Offices of Jonathan Merel, P.C., we take the time to get to know you, your situation, and your goals. We then use our experience and knowledge to come up with an effective plan of action. We will aggressively pursue the best possible outcome for you. We represent clients in Skokie.

Contact our firm at (312) 487-2795 today to schedule your consultation.

What is Spousal Support?

Spousal support, also known as alimony, is a way to help the lower-earning spouse maintain the standard of living to which he or she has become accustomed during the marriage.

Types of spousal support include:

• Temporary Maintenance: Also known as "pendente lite" support, this type of maintenance is awarded during the divorce or separation process. Its purpose is to help the lower-earning spouse meet immediate financial needs until a final maintenance order is determined.
• Rehabilitative Maintenance: Rehabilitative support is intended to assist the lower-earning spouse in gaining education, skills, or training necessary to become self-supporting. It may cover the costs of education or vocational training to increase their employability.
• Reviewable Maintenance: Reviewable support means that spousal support is awarded for a specific period, after which the court will reevaluate the circumstances to determine if it should be extended or modified.
• Indefinite Maintenance: Also called permanent or long-term maintenance, this type of support is awarded when a spouse's earning capacity is significantly lower, and they cannot reasonably be expected to become fully self-supporting. Indefinite maintenance continues until the recipient spouse remarries, either spouse dies, or a significant change in circumstances occurs.

The court bases spousal support decisions on the length of the marriage and the spouses' standard of living during marriage. Spousal support is generally temporary, lasting only as long as is necessary for the lower-earning spouse to become self-supporting and move to a level closer to the standard of living during marriage.

While spousal support can be contentious, it is often the case that the lower-earning spouse needs financial support and the higher-earning spouse is happy to provide it. However, if you are the higher-earning spouse, you need to work with an attorney who is experienced in spousal support litigation to make sure your rights are protected.

How is Spousal Support Calculated in Illinois?

When determining spousal support, the court must take into account a number of factors, including:

• Income and Property of Each Party: The court examines the income and property of each spouse, including any marital assets and debts.
• Needs of Each Party: Financial requirements of both spouses are considered, taking into account the standard of living they were accustomed to during the marriage.
• Duration of the Marriage: The length of the marriage is a crucial factor. Longer marriages may result in longer or indefinite spousal support compared to shorter ones.
• Contributions to the Marriage: The court evaluates the contributions made by each spouse during the marriage, which can include both financial contributions and non-financial ones, like homemaking and childcare.
• Employability and Employability Efforts: The judge looks at the education, skills, and employability of each spouse. If one spouse has significantly lower earning capacity and has made efforts to become self-supporting, it can influence the spousal support decision.
• Health and Age: The health and age of each spouse are considered, as they can affect their ability to support themselves financially.
• Tax Consequences: The court may take into account the tax implications of spousal support for both parties.
• Agreements Between the Parties: If there is a prenuptial agreement or a postnuptial agreement addressing spousal support, the court will consider its terms.
• Any Other Relevant Factors: The court has the discretion to consider any other pertinent factors that may influence the determination of spousal support.

While judges have a lot of discretion in determining spousal support, they must consider all of the above factors. If you have questions about how much spousal support you may be entitled to, or if you are wondering how much you will have to pay, you need to speak with an experienced spousal support lawyer in Skokie, IL.

Contact the Law Offices of Jonathan Merel, P.C.

Spousal support matters can be very contentious. If you are worried about how you will make ends meet, or if you are facing financial hardship because you will be paying support, you need an experienced lawyer on your side.

Our firm can help you resolve your spousal support matter. Contact us online or call (312) 487-2795 to schedule a consultation.