If you are about to start the divorce process, you might be wondering about the typical duration of alimony. Depending on your circumstances, you may want to extend alimony or cut it short. For this, you’ll need to know what factors affect alimony agreements in Tennessee, and that is exactly what this blog will discuss. Don’t forget that your best preparation for divorce proceedings is a knowledgeable and experienced Memphis alimony lawyer.
How Marriage Length Impacts Alimony
The length of the marriage is a central component in alimony agreements, though it is not the only factor. We will cover those other factors shortly.
Current Tennessee rules state the alimony-receiving ex-spouse will be paid one year of alimony for every three years of marriage. So, as an example, that spouse may be entitled to two years of alimony for a six-year-old marriage. The goal in Tennessee law is to ensure that the spouse being paid alimony becomes self-supporting.
What Other Factors Affect Alimony Duration?
As promised, we will now discuss other factors that weigh on alimony decisions. These may include:
- What was the ex-spouses’ standard of living during the marriage?
- How old were both exes when they married and when they divorced?
- Is one ex-spouse going about to be a primary giver for a child?
- What does the health of the alimony-receiving ex-spouse look like?
- What are the assets of each ex-spouse and how was marital property divided?
Judges typically have broad discretion in alimony decisions, so it can be difficult to predict the exact terms of your alimony agreement. The above, however, are common questions that come up in alimony negotiations and court considerations.
In fact, if you’re on good terms with your ex, you may not need the judge to make a decision. The lawyers for both parties may be able to negotiate. If the agreement is fair to each ex, courts will likely not have problems honoring it.
When Might Alimony End Early?
There are also situations when alimony ends before the originally agreed-upon duration is up. The alimony-paying ex-spouse may no longer be required to send alimony if their ex is remarried or living with someone else who supports them financially.
The second example is known as cohabitation. Cohabitation can be proved by evidence indicating that your spouse and another person live together most of the time and that their finances are entangled. An example of entangled finances might be jointly-owned vehicles or property as well as a joint bank account.
