Spousal Support, APL & Alimony
Spousal Support, APL & Alimony Lawyer in Ephrata, Pennsylvania
Spousal support, Alimony Pendente Lite (APL) and Alimony are different in some ways and similar in others, but each can have huge economic consequences. I have counseled and represented hundreds of clients on both sides of these issues for more than 34 years. That experience has taught me the nuances in the law that can make all the difference in a spousal support, APL or alimony case, either in negotiations and/or in court.
Additionally, I have had years of observing how both husbands and wives react when confronted with these issues, providing me with knowledge that can be extremely useful when negotiating with the other side or presenting a case in court. That experience also helps me assist my client's tactically while being both a supportive and understanding.
Contact me today to arrange an appointment to discuss your spousal support and alimony options.
Spousal Support and APL
Spousal support and APL are both pre-divorce procedures, but each has its subtle variations. The lower earning spouse is only entitled to spousal support provided he or she has not committed grounds for a fault divorce, and then only if there is still a difference in income after the claimant's income and child support have been deducted from the defendant's net income. Spousal support can continue for over two years under certain circumstances, but will end when the divorce is granted. Marital misconduct is not a defense against APL but a divorce must be filed before an award can be made using the latter approach. Both are calculated using the same formula.
Alimony
Alimony consists of payments awarded by the court after a divorce has been granted. Whether alimony is granted depends on a number of factors provided in the statute, including the amount of assets distributed to each, the parties' comparative incomes, their health and sometimes marital misconduct.
Alimony can be ordered for a short period of time, until retirement, or for any length of time in between. Unless there is an agreement, the court can set the amount of alimony at a level that it deems appropriate under the statutory guidelines. Alimony can also be given when there are insufficient marital assets to compensate one spouse for the waste committed by the other.
Contact Me Today
If you are interested in discussing spousal support, APL, or alimony, or are looking for a attorney regarding any family law matter, please give me a call at 717-842-4467 or toll free at 888-633-8853. I will explain what I can do for you and my fee arrangement. If we cannot arrange an appointment during my business hours between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., we can schedule an evening appointment.
