No one thinks of the end when they’re first walking down the aisle, but divorce remains a constant in American society. Nearly half of all couples still call it quits after a certain number of years, and some of these uncouplings can be more difficult than others.
If you’re preparing to go through a divorce, it’s essential you understand the ins and outs of alimony. Alimony payments are often the subject of a divorce that stirs up the most strife and debate. For good reason, too: it can greatly impact your life after your marriage.
What do you need to know about negotiating alimony? Read on and we’ll walk you through all the details.
Do Your Research
Your divorce is a serious matter and it’s something that you’ll want to give your full attention to. Going into the process as informed as possible will be extremely helpful, which is why it would be a good choice to do some alimony research early on in your divorce process.
Different states have different laws when it comes to alimony, and reading up on these can help to set your expectations right going into the talks.
You may even be able to use basic information about yourself and your former spouse to help calculate and predict general alimony numbers. Doing all this work ahead of time can help make the work of negotiating alimony payments much easier later on.
Hire an Attorney
There’s no understating just how helpful having a family lawyer on your side during this kind of negotiation can be. An experienced family law attorney will have handled cases like your own dozens and dozens of times in the past.
They’ll be well equipped to handle yours as a result. They’ll know what strategies to employ, what obstacles might arise, and how to best work towards the outcome that you desire.
They’ll also be there as a shoulder to lean on during a difficult time, and someone to look to for guidance and help during a possibly foreign and difficult legal process. You won’t want to go into this kind of situation without an alimony lawyer.
Be Willing to Compromise
Many people enter these talks thinking of how to get the most alimony possible, or how to do the inverse and keep the most money in their pocket.
While it’s important to take your needs seriously, it’s also important to stay open to the possibility of compromise when it comes to alimony talks.
Negotiating alimony can be a long and drawn-out process, and the more you are willing to hear the perspective of your former spouse, the quicker and more painless the overall experience can be.
Negotiating Alimony
If you’re getting a divorce in the coming year, you’ll want to become well-versed in the subject matter of alimony. Whether you’re hoping to receive it or prevent giving too much of it out, the above information can be quite helpful as a primer.
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