How is Alimony Determined in Pennsylvania?

While child support in Pennsylvania is calculated according to state guidelines, there is no set formula for calculating alimony. In fact, there is no presumption of alimony in divorce cases in the state. Instead, the spouse requesting alimony must prove that they will experience a financial need upon divorce and that their soon-to-be ex has the financial means to help. Alimony can play a significant financial role in your future and can directly affect your financial rights. Our experienced Harrisburg alimony attorneys at McDonald Myers Law have the skill and legal insight to help.

Alimony in Pennsylvania

The Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas handles Harrisburg divorce cases, and alimony is a specific term of divorce that applies only under specific conditions. These include that the divorce will leave one spouse financially dependent. If the other spouse has the financial ability to help, alimony may be ordered.

The three forms of alimony in the state include the following:

• Spousal support, which applies post-separation but prior to divorce
• Alimony pendente lite (APL), which is another form of temporary financial support that is generally awarded to help a financially dependent spouse cover their living costs during divorce
• Alimony, which is granted as a final divorce term in relation to several specific factors

The Applicable Factors

There is a wide range of factors that determine whether alimony will be granted in a Harrisburg divorce and, if so, what the amount and duration will be. These include all the following:

• Each spouse’s earnings and assets relative to one another, the sources of each spouse’s income, and each spouse’s expected future earnings
• Each spouse’s needs relative to the other’s
• The length of the marriage
• The standard of living achieved during the marriage
• Each spouse’s overall physical, emotional, and psychological health
• Any inheritances that either spouse expects to receive
• The extent to which either spouse contributed to the other’s education, career, or increased earning potential
• The financial consequences experienced by the spouse who takes on the primary custodial role
• The separate property that either spouse brought into the marriage
• The contributions each spouse made to the marriage, including in relation to homemaking and childcare
• The tax consequences of the proposed alimony terms
• Any marital misconduct that the court considers relevant to the case at hand

Alimony, in other words, is a nuanced legal matter, and having skilled legal guidance backing you up is always advised.

Gender Is Not a Factor

While many people are under the impression that only wives qualify for alimony, gender plays no role. If divorce leaves either spouse financially disadvantaged in relation to the factors that apply, alimony may be awarded.

Our Experienced Harrisburg Alimony Lawyers Are Here to Help

Our dedicated Harrisburg alimony attorneys at McDonald Meyers Law dedicate our impressive practice to skilled advocacy on behalf of our clients’ financial rights, and we’re here for you, too. Learn more by contacting us online or giving our firm a call at 717-704-9077 today.