SPOUSAL SUPPORT ATTORNEY IN ELIZABETHTOWN, KENTUCKY

Regardless of the circumstances involved, a divorce can have a huge effect on your emotional and financial health. Issues of alimony and spousal maintenance often arise during the divorce process. If you are considering a divorce or currently in the process of one and want to know your options regarding spousal support arrangements, it’s important that you consult an experienced family law attorney.

Our attorneys at Caleb Bland Law, PLLC are dedicated to providing outstanding legal services and comprehensive guidance in matters of divorce and spousal support. Whether you are trying to establish spousal support arrangements or modify an existing agreement, we will provide you with the detailed legal counsel and advocacy you need. Consulting with our knowledgeable Kentucky spousal support attorneys can help make the transition as smooth as possible for everyone involved.

Caleb Bland Law, PLLC proudly serves clients throughout Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and the surrounding areas of Radcliff, Shepherdsville, Bardstown, and Brandenburg.

Overview of Spousal Support (Alimony or Maintenance) in Kentucky

Spousal support can be described as a court-ordered provision by a spouse to his or her estranged spouse after a divorce or legal separation. In Kentucky, alimony is sometimes called “maintenance.” During the divorce proceedings, spousal support may be granted to one spouse, regardless of gender.

Types of Spousal Support in Kentucky

The different types of spousal support available in Kentucky include:

Permanent Alimony/Maintenance

Permanent alimony is awarded in rare circumstances. It is financial support paid from one spouse to another after a divorce. This type of alimony is only awarded if:

• The spouses were married for ten years or more

• The requesting spouse is unable to work due to a medical condition

• The requesting spouse earns no income or one that is considerably lower than the income of the payor spouse

Temporary Alimony/Maintenance

Temporary alimony is awarded on a short-term basis during the period of the divorce proceedings. The divorce court will require the spouse requesting temporary alimony to submit a list of assets and expenses. Once the divorce is finalized, temporary alimony payments will end immediately.

Rehabilitation Alimony/Maintenance

Rehabilitation alimony is available for spouses who were married for a short period. The spouse who needs time to secure self-sustaining employment, undergo additional training, or fulfill educational requirements may request for rehabilitative maintenance.

Who Is Entitled To Spousal Support?

Spousal maintenance in Kentucky is gender-neutral. Under Kentucky Revised Statute 403.200., to receive support from your ex-spouse, you must prove that:

Inadequate Resources: You lack sufficient resources to provide for your reasonable needs, even after the property division.

Child Care Prevents Being Able to Work: You are unable to work, support yourself, or are responsible for a child who requires care, and thus makes it inappropriate for you to work outside the home.

Determination of Type, Amount, and Duration

If the requesting spouse meets the above requirements, the following factors will be used to determine the type, amount, and duration of maintenance:

• The financial resources of the requesting spouse

• The length of the marriage

• The time required for the requesting spouse to complete sufficient education or job training to enable them to find proper employment

• The couple’s standard of living that was established during the marriage

• The age, mental health, and physical health of the requesting spouse

• The ability of the payor spouse to remain financially independent while paying maintenance.

Changes to Current Alimony Agreement

Under Kentucky law, an existing alimony arrangement may be modified only if there is a showing of a continuous and substantial change in circumstances since the initial decree, and have made the ongoing order unreasonable.

If you believe that circumstances have changed since your divorce and you think your spousal support arrangement should be reviewed or modified, you should speak with a knowledgeable family law attorney.

How an Experienced Attorney Can Help

In 2017, the divorce rate in Kentucky was 3.7 per 1,000 residents. Divorce and spousal support cases in Kentucky are often very complicated. If you are preparing for a divorce and would like guidance on spousal maintenance arrangements, consult with an experienced spousal support attorney immediately.

At Caleb Bland Law, PLLC, we understand how complicated the entire alimony process can be. Our team of experienced attorneys has dedicated their careers to handling matters such as those related to divorce, alimony, child support, and spousal maintenance.

As experienced spousal support attorneys, we can guide you through the process of setting up or modifying spousal support arrangements. Call us today to get the comprehensive legal guidance and advocacy you need.