Greensburg Alimony Lawyer
When you file for divorce, you might assume that you won’t have any further communication with your ex-spouse—especially if you don’t have children together—once the divorce is finalized. However, certain situations may lead you to communicate still, such as when the court awards alimony. When alimony is part of the final Pennsylvania divorce decree, you and your ex will have a continued obligation to each other for as long as the court orders it. Not surprisingly, alimony is one of the most contested aspects of a divorce.
If you are entrenched in a messy alimony battle during your divorce, you need an experienced Greensburg alimony lawyer who can help. At Bunde & Roberts, P.C., our team of Pennsylvania family law attorneys have years of experience negotiating, mediating, arbitrating, and litigation alimony disputes in divorce matters—everything from simple divorces to high-net-worth asset portfolios. We have a deep understanding of how Pennsylvania divorce laws work and the financial issues associated with these proceedings.
We are motivated and ready to work with you throughout your entire divorce proceeding to protect your finances, rights, and livelihood.
Is There a Difference Between Alimony and Spousal Support in Pennsylvania?
Under Pennsylvania law, married people are financially responsible for each other. That means a husband has the legal responsibility to support his wife and vice versa. When the court awards alimony, it’s the financial support owed after the divorce is finalized. Alimony is always periodic payments made to the ex-spouse post-divorce.
Spousal support is paid to the spouse after you are separated but before the divorce is filed. There is a third type of support in Pennsylvania as well. Alimony Pendente Lite (APL) is the term for any financial support paid to the spouse once the divorce is filed but before it’s finalized.
Every state has its own rules on alimony and spousal support. Pennsylvania does allow for alimony in divorce matters; however, it’s not necessarily awarded in every case.
When Is Alimony Awarded in a Pennsylvania Divorce?
According to the Pennsylvania Divorce Code of 1980, the court can award alimony to either spouse under specific circumstances. The Code also dictates the duration and amount of potential alimony payments. The terms differ for alimony versus spousal support in that there is no specific guideline in the statute on how much alimony must be paid.
Some states have broad authority to award alimony in a final divorce decree. In Pennsylvania, it’s more narrowly construed and only authorized under certain circumstances. The court typically looks at the need and the ability to pay.
Types of Alimony
There are two main types of alimony in Pennsylvania. The first is rehabilitative alimony, which can help a spouse get back on their feet financially. They can use the funds to go back to school and obtain new job skills.
The second type of alimony is permanent alimony, which the court usually awards in cases where one spouse cannot work again due to disability, age, physical/mental illness, etc.
Contact a Greensburg Alimony Lawyer
If you need assistance with your Pennsylvania divorce and alimony, let the skilled Greensburg alimony lawyers at Bunde & Roberts, P.C., help. Contact our office today at 412-391-4330 to schedule an initial consultation.
