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Generally, alimony is the court-ordered payment of monetary support from one spouse to another. A judge may award alimony for a variety of reasons including:
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Financial realities of the divorce that make it equitable for one spouse to receive support;
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A spouse may need temporary assistance to get back on his or her feet; and
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Length of marriage, disabilities and other special considerations.
There are many other factors that a court will consider in awarding alimony, and you will want to contact a military divorce attorney in Richmond to discuss the details of your case.
Not all alimony awards are permanent. Instead, a military divorce lawyer in Richmond can explain to you that courts typically have discretion to award alimony for varying periods of time.
It is a very fact-specific determination to determine how long alimony will be awarded. Some types of alimony that a military divorce lawyer in Richmond can explain include:
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Bridge the Gap. This type of alimony may be appropriate when one spouse needs support for a short period of time, such as to get a car, move into an apartment or finish a degree.
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Temporary. Temporary spousal support is often awarded to couples who were married for a short period of time or if there is some special need where one spouse deserves support.
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Permanent. A judge may consider long marriages or circumstances where a spouse is incapacitated in awarding permanent alimony. In addition, a spouse who sacrificed his or her career or primarily raised the couple's children may be entitled to permanent support.