Whether you are male or female, if you have been married for a significant period of time and are now seeking divorce, you may be eligible for alimony in Oklahoma. There are however, several other factors that will be considered. What follows here is a brief description of how courts determine matters related to alimony in Oklahoma.
Alimony, also called “spousal support”, is financial support paid by one spouse to another after divorce. It is usually ordered to be paid in monthly installments, but may also be ordered in the form of a one lump-sum payment. You and your spouse can agree to alimony terms on your own or leave it up to the courts.
Alimony is not a legal right, but a remedy for the financial disparity that may exist between spouses after they divorce. The courts determine the amount and duration of alimony based on a number of factors. These factors may include the length of the marriage, the age of each spouse, income, job skills and ability to a spouse to find a job and become self-sufficient.
In Oklahoma, there are two kinds of spousal support available: spousal maintenance and alimony. Spousal maintenance is ordered by the court to be paid by one spouse to the other while the divorce proceedings are taking place. This means from the time you file for divorce until the final divorce decree is issued. Alimony, is awarded in the final divorce decree and is to be paid in money or property after the divorce for a specific length of time or indefinitely.
As mentioned above, Oklahoma courts consider a number of factors when making alimony determinations. Most importantly, Oklahoma courts will consider the length of the marriage and the ability of the spouses to support themselves. The duration of alimony in Oklahoma will be determined based on what is reasonable under the circumstance and the amount of time it will take for the receiving spouse to become self-supporting. Short-term alimony may be awarded to give the receiving spouse time to prepare financially for the separation. On the other hand, the court may award long-term or even life-long alimony after a lengthy marriage and if the needs of the receiving spouse dictate.
In any event, alimony in Oklahoma cannot be terminated unless the receiving party remarries or upon the death of a spouse. Either party however, can request that alimony be modified if it can be shown that certain material circumstance call for an adjustment in the terms. An increase or decrease in income or living expense can be grounds for a modification. Alimony may also be modified if the receiving spouse starts cohabiting with a member of the opposite sex.
Alimony is a remedy available to address the financial disparity between spouses after divorce. You and you spouses can decide upon the terms of any alimony payments or allow the courts to do it for you. An experienced Tulsa alimony attorney can help you and your spouse negotiate alimony terms or estimate the amount and duration of alimony that may be awarded by the courts in your particular case.
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Tulsa Oklahoma Alimony Attorney
To find out more about alimony in Oklahoma, contact the family law attorney at Divorce Law Office of Tulsa: 918-924-5526. We offer free, no obligation consultations. If you prefer you may send your question using the “Ask the Lawyer” form on the right side of this page.
