What Factors are Considered When Calculating Spousal Maintenance in Illinois?

 Posted on March 23, 2020 in Divorce

After deciding to cut ties with your spouse, it can be difficult to imagine a life without them. You may know that divorce is the best decision for you both; however, that does not always mean that the transition is seamless. You experience being truly on your own for the first time since getting married, both emotionally and financially. While the emotional transition can be a rollercoaster of highs and lows, adjusting to a single income can be the most difficult change of all. Maybe you were a one-income household with one parent staying home, or perhaps you both had a steady income. Regardless, getting used to living off one paycheck, while working on the emotional distress that comes with divorce, can be enough to send someone into a spiral. Fortunately, spousal maintenance can supplement your finances if your former spouse has a greater income than you.

What Does the Court Look At?

To help divorcing couples adjust and survive, the court will often require one spouse to pay their ex a particular amount each month. While they may use an equation of sorts, there are a variety of other factors that play into a judge’s decision for these payments. Spousal maintenance requirements vary in amount, frequency, and lifespan. In other words, every divorce agreement is unique, including the amount of money that will be given by one former spouse to the other. According to Illinois statutes regarding spousal maintenance, the following factors are considered while making decisions regarding these payments:

• The property and income of each party, including any assets that are assigned in the property division process
• The possible present and future earning capacity of each party
• Time devoted to domestic work throughout their marriage and decisions made to defer education or employment opportunities as a result of the marriage
• The time it will take the deserved party to acquire proper training, education, and employment and how well this job position would allow them to support themselves
• The duration of the marriage and their standard of living at the time of divorce
• All sources of income that each party has access to, including retirement and disability income

When the court comes to an agreement on the spousal maintenance amounts, they must provide the two parties with the reasoning behind their choices. The findings report will include information regarding why the court did or did not require spousal maintenance payments to be made and an explanation of what factors contributed to their decision.

Call a Joliet Spousal Support Attorney For Help

Whether or not you came to a mutual agreement to file for divorce, this legal process can be emotionally and financially taxing. To avoid having extreme difficulties after the divorce is finalized, Illinois allows spousal maintenance payments to be made if the court deems it necessary. Navigating the negotiation process can be impossible without a legal professional advocating on your behalf. At The Foray Firm, our lawyers put our clients first to make sure their needs are being met during the divorce process and after the papers have been signed. If you are considering divorce and need financial assistance after the split, contact our Will County spousal maintenance lawyers at 312-702-1293 today.

Source:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/075000050k504.htm