Alimony and Spousal Support Attorneys in Montgomery County

Alimony, also known as spousal support, is a financial arrangement that ensures one spouse provides monetary support to the other after a separation or divorce. At Boyd & Early Family Law, our Alimony Attorneys in Montgomery County are dedicated to helping clients navigate the complexities of alimony laws and secure fair and adequate support.

Understanding Alimony and Spousal Support

Alimony is designed to provide financial support to a spouse who may be economically disadvantaged after a divorce or separation. It helps maintain the standard of living established during the marriage and ensures that both parties can transition to independent lives. The amount and duration of alimony can vary based on several factors, including the length of the marriage, the financial needs of each spouse, and their ability to support themselves.

Types of Alimony and Support Support

Apart from child support, there are three types of support that can be ordered when a couple separates. The type of support ordered depends on whether a divorce has been filed and whether the divorce is still pending.

• Spousal Support is support that is paid from the higher-earning spouse to the lower-earning spouse when the parties are separated, but a divorce has not been filed. The amount of support is based on the parties’ incomes and the Pennsylvania Support Guidelines. In some circumstances, Spousal Support may not be ordered based on problematic behavior by one or both of the parties during the marriage and surrounding their separation.
  
• Alimony Pendente Lite (often called by an abbreviated term: “APL”) is support that is paid from the higher-earning spouse to the lower-earning spouse when the parties are separated and a divorce has been filed. The amount of support is also based on the parties’ incomes and the Pennsylvania Support Guidelines.
• Alimony is support that is paid after a divorce has been finalized. Unlike Spousal Support and Alimony Pendente Lite, alimony is not based on the Pennsylvania Support Guidelines, but rather is based on a number of factors set forth in the Pennsylvania Support Statute including the parties’ incomes, their assets and debts, each parties’ financial needs and their ability to support their expenses, and the length of the marriage, among others. Alimony can vary greatly from case to case based on that family’s set of circumstances. An experienced attorney can help you understand whether alimony is likely to be awarded in your case and what the amount and length of the support obligation may be. Understanding whether you will be paying or receiving alimony is a critical part of resolving your case and planning for your financial future.

Filing for Alimony or Spousal Support

In order to start receiving spousal support or alimony pendente lite, you must file a Complaint with the Court. Our attorneys can handle the filing process for you to ensure that support begins promptly.

Court Hearings and Orders

Once you file your Complaint for Support, you will be scheduled for a conference with Domestic Relations. Most of our local counties hold those conferences via telephone call or zoom. Before the conference, you will be asked to supply documentation to the Court including proof of your income, your expenses and health insurance coverage costs. The Domestic Relations Conference Officer will run the support calculations and work with you to try to reach an agreement. If you are unable to reach an agreement on the amount of support owed, you will either be scheduled for a Hearing Officer or a Judge, depending on which county is handling your case. It is important to have an attorney at both the Domestic Relations Conference and any later proceeding in order to ensure that the amount of support is correct.

Modifying Alimony Orders

Circumstances can change over time, and it may be necessary to modify an existing support Order. Your attorney can can help you navigate the process of modifying support to reflect changes in income, employment status, or other significant life events.

Enforcing Alimony or Spousal Support Orders

The Court system takes the enforcement of support orders very seriously. Whether you are the spouse paying support or receiving support, it is important to monitor the amount and timing of payments to ensure that both parties are in compliance with the Court Order.

Legal Remedies for Enforcement

There are several legal remedies available to enforce support Orders, including:

• Income Withholding: Automatically deducting support payments from the paying party’s wages.
• Contempt of Court: Filing a contempt of court action against the paying spouse for failing to comply with the support Order.
• Seizure of Assets: Seizing the paying party’s assets, such as bank accounts or property, to satisfy back support (also called “arrears”).
• Interception of Tax Refunds: Intercepting the paying party’s tax refunds to cover unpaid support.

Our attorneys can help you understand the available enforcement options and take the necessary legal steps to ensure that support payments are made and received.

Why Choose Our Alimony and Spousal Support Attorneys

At Boyd & Early Family Law, our legal team is committed to providing compassionate and effective legal representation to ensure the best outcomes for your financial future.  We have extensive experience in all areas of support and representation of both the party paying support and the party receiving support. We believe in a personalized approach, tailoring our services to meet the unique needs of each client. We take the time to understand your situation, listen to your concerns, and develop a customized legal strategy that addresses your goals and priorities.

Contact us today for a review of your potential support obligation or entitlement.