Spousal Support &
Alimony
Spousal Support & Alimony In Divorce
Spousal support is an important aspect of many divorce cases in which one party was the primary financial supporter of the other party. In the state of Pennsylvania, support payments are especially important to the spouse who needs the support in order to maintain his or her lifestyle. If you and your current spouse are unable to reach a mutual agreement on the issue of spousal support, our firm can get involved to help you obtain a fair resolution. Speak with one of our divorce attorneys at your earliest convenience. We have convenient office locations in both West Chester & Media, Pennsylvania.
Spousal Support vs. Alimony Pendente Lite
In the state of Pennsylvania, two terms are commonly used to reference the support payments made from one party to the other before and after divorce proceedings have been initiated:
-
spousal support and
-
alimony pendente lite (APL)
APL can only be awarded after the divorce action has started, whereas spousal support can be awarded to the estranged spouse prior to the initiation of the divorce.
While sometimes used interchangeably, spousal support and alimony pendente lite serve somewhat different purposes. Spousal support exists primarily for the maintenance and well-being of the dependent spouse, whereas APL is primarily awarded so that one spouse can be placed on an "equal footing" with the other spouse for purposes of litigating the divorce.
Guidelines for Support
Spousal support and APL are calculated in the same manner in Pennsylvania. In child support cases, Pennsylvania courts use mandatory guideline calculations to determine the amount of spousal support that must be paid. Find out what these guidelines are by contacting our firm today.