Spousal support (also known as alimony) is generally divided into two main categories: short term and long term/permanent support. The spousal support arrangement established through a divorce depends on various factors, but here is an overview of some of the most common types of arrangements:
- Temporary alimony while divorce is pending. Divorces can be long affairs, and you might be stuck without the means to support yourself while the case is pending. During this time, you may seek temporary spousal support to cover you from the time you separate from your spouse to the time the divorce is finalized and an official alimony arrangement takes effect.
- Bridge the Gap and rehabilitative alimony. Judges may order Bridge the Gap alimony if the marriage itself was very short. The arrangement usually only lasts a few years, with a precise ending date established in your court order. The purpose of this alimony is to assist the in-need spouse bridge the gap between married life and single life. Rehabilitative support is a category that falls under short-term support specifically designed to help a dependent spouse get back into the workforce by getting the training he or she needs. The payments cease as soon as the recipient has completed a training program and is once again employed.
- Long-term Alimony and Permanent Periodic support. Permanent support usually is granted after a long marriage if judges believe the dependent spouse will be unable to get back into the workforce. It ends only when the recipient or payer dies or when the recipient remarries, unless the court finds the recipient has entered into a supportive relationship.
For more information on potential spousal support arrangements you could establish, contact a skilled Jacksonville family law attorney at Combs Greene, PA.