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Simple English definitions for legal terms
alimony
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A quick definition of alimony:
Alimony is money that one person pays to their ex-spouse after they get divorced. This money helps the ex-spouse who can't support themselves. Sometimes, the money is also used to help take care of the children. The amount of money is decided by a judge and is based on things like how much money each person makes and how long they were married. The person who pays the alimony might have to pay it all at once or in smaller amounts over time. How long they have to pay depends on how long they were married.
A more thorough explanation:
Alimony is a type of financial support that one spouse provides to the other after a divorce. It is usually given to the spouse who cannot support themselves financially. The amount of alimony is determined by a judge and can be paid in a lump sum or in monthly payments.
The amount of alimony is based on several factors, such as the length of the marriage, the income of both spouses, and any specific expenses related to the children. The duration of alimony payments is often based on the length of the marriage as well.
For example, if a couple has been married for 10 years and one spouse has been a stay-at-home parent, they may be entitled to receive alimony payments from their ex-spouse. The amount of the payments would be based on the income of both spouses and any expenses related to the children.
Another example would be if one spouse has a higher income than the other and the lower-income spouse cannot support themselves without financial assistance. In this case, the higher-income spouse may be required to pay alimony to the lower-income spouse.
These examples illustrate how alimony is used to provide financial support to a spouse who may not be able to support themselves after a divorce. It is meant to help the receiving spouse maintain their standard of living and cover any necessary expenses.