Alimony Lawyer in Minnesota Explaining Your Options and Responsibilities

When you go through a divorce, there are specific issues that have to be worked out. These include property division and child custody — if children are involved — but spousal maintenance is another factor that may come into play. While some people think of alimony as an antiquated topic that isn’t still relevant to modern divorces, this isn’t true. The courts still award alimony payments on a regular basis, and it’s important to know whether this might apply to your case — whether you’re the one receiving or making the payments.

If you think spousal maintenance might be a factor in your divorce, it’s important to talk about your options with an attorney. While alimony doesn’t apply in all situations, it’s an important issue to consider when going through the divorce and trying to come to an agreement on terms. Call our firm today to speak with an alimony lawyer.

Is Alimony and Spousal Maintenance the Same Thing?

Yes, for all intents and purposes, spousal maintenance and alimony are the same things. Alimony is generally considered an older term but is still used in some divorce courts. Some people use the term alimony to refer to permanent support payments and reserve the term spousal maintenance for temporary support orders. You may also see these terms used specifically in prenuptial or postnuptial agreements, but spousal support, alimony, and spousal maintenance all refer to the same thing: financial support payments made from one spouse to another for some duration of time after the divorce.

What Are the Alimony Guidelines in Minnesota?

When it comes to alimony, there are no specific guidelines that the Minnesota family law courts have to follow. Instead, the amount of alimony and the duration is largely left up to the interpretation of the individual court judge. In general, the larger the financial disparity between the two parties, the larger the alimony payments, and the longer the marriage, the longer alimony is in effect for. Because so much is left up to the individual judge, it’s important to talk with your attorney to determine what you believe is a reasonable alimony amount, so you have something to propose.

How Long Is Alimony Awarded For?

There are no rules for how long alimony can be awarded. Some judges like to grant one year of alimony for every three years of the marriage, but they have great leeway in this. The most important thing to understand is if the alimony is going to be temporary or permanent and whether there are any conditions attached, such as alimony terminating if the receiving party gets remarried.

Can Alimony Be Agreed Upon in a Prenuptial Agreement?

Yes, spousal maintenance is one of the main areas that are usually included in a prenuptial agreement, along with the division of marital property. If you have a prenup in place, it’s important to talk to an attorney about what it means for your case and whether it entitles you to alimony. Prenups may also include provisions for you to receive some of your ex’s retirement benefits, which can also affect your financial future. If you don’t have a prenup or it doesn’t have a specific outline for how alimony is to be handled, you can still request alimony from the court.

Can a Family Law Attorney Help Me With Alimony?

A family law attorney can help you understand how spousal maintenance works and whether it’s an option for your case. An attorney can help you get alimony if you qualify and ensure that any financial arrangements are made with your interests in mind. One of the benefits of partnering with a divorce attorney is that you have a dedicated resource to ask questions and to fight for your financial interests and rights in court.
Figuring out if you may be able to get spousal maintenance is one of the key responsibilities of a divorce attorney. Call 651-571-8547 to speak with a member of the TVA Law Office team. We offer our clients the opportunity for a consultation so you can find out how we would handle your case and get the chance to ask questions before you hire us.