Determination Of Spousal Support – Alimony Laws in Utah
Alimony, also called spousal support, is financial support awarded by the court to a spouse, to be paid by the other spouse after a divorce. Under Utah alimony laws, temporary alimony can be awarded to a spouse during a divorce and is to be paid by the other spouse during the period until the divorce is finalized, or until a later date specified in the order.
The final divorce decree or court order handed down by the judge can include a new order for alimony, at which time the temporary order is replaced by the new order. Temporary alimony is ordered to ensure the financial needs of a spouse are met while the divorce is in progress and the terms are being litigated by the parties and decided by the judge.
Utah Alimony Laws are Different Than Many Other States. If You Need a Spousal Support Lawyer in Salt Lake City, Contact the Law Office of David Pedrazas.
Click to jump to section:
- Factors That Influence Spousal Support According to Utah Alimony Laws
- Who May Be Awarded Alimony?
- How Long is Temporary Alimony Paid?
- Temporary Alimony is Not Automatically Ordered
- How to Get a Temporary Alimony Order?
- To Respond to a Motion for a Temporary Alimony Order
- Modifying Alimony in Utah
- Alimony Enforcement In Utah
- Alimony FAQ
- Award-Winning Salt Lake City Spousal Support Attorney
Factors That Influence Spousal Support According to Utah Alimony Laws
- The financial requirements of the recipient, including debts and living expenses
- The earning capacity of the recipient based on the individual’s work history and ability to work
- The ability of the paying spouse to sustain alimony payments, with consideration of both income and liabilities in the form of debts and living expenses
- How long the parties have been married
- Which parent will receive child custody
- Whether the party who is requesting alimony previously worked in a business owned or operated by the other party
- Contributions that the recipient made to the career of the paying spouse in the form of financial support during education
The goal of alimony is to provide the recipient with the necessary financial support to ease the transition from economic dependence during the marriage into financial self-sufficiency, while also making it possible to continue to enjoy an acceptable standard of living. It is important to note that the duration of an alimony award cannot extend longer than the length of time that the parties were married, under most circumstances.
Who May Be Awarded Alimony?
Either spouse in a divorce can ask the judge to award alimony. The financial support can be granted temporarily while the divorce case is still in progress. Or, it can be ordered for a longer time period, to extend beyond the date the divorce is finalized. The court typically considers the financial situation and needs of the spouse who asks for the temporary spousal support Utah allows, among other factors.
Some of the particular financial and other considerations the court takes into account in deciding on a temporary order for alimony include:
- The individual’s financial obligations and ability to pay them.
- The person’s earnings history and ability to produce income.
- Diminished workplace experience due to caring for the spouse’s child.
- The ability of the paying spouse to provide support.
- The recipient’s contributions to the other spouse’s education lead to a higher income.
- Fault for the divorce, for example, due to infidelity, domestic abuse, etc.
- The couple’s standard of living at the time they separated.
- The length of the marriage.
In some cases, the court will attempt to equalize the two divorcing spouses’ standards of living.
How Long is Temporary Alimony Paid?
Alimony is not usually ordered in Utah for a period that exceeds the time length of the marriage. There are exceptions in some cases in which the court determines that there are good reasons to order alimony for a longer period. A temporary alimony order remains in force until a new order for a modification is issued by the court, or until the divorce is final, or until a specified date, the court sets for it to expire after the divorce is finalized.
Temporary Alimony is Not Automatically Ordered
You must submit good reasons to the court for your request for temporary alimony. Further, if you want to obtain a temporary order for any financial payments as part of a divorce, you must submit a Financial Declaration. That applies to temporary orders for alimony, child support, property division, attorney fees, and others. Your divorce attorney will properly prepare and submit your motion for a temporary order for alimony and the necessary accompanying documents.
How to Get a Temporary Alimony Order?
Temporary orders are used to address critical decisions that parties need from judges during the process of divorce. Such needs include decisions on temporary child custody and support, parent time schedules, property division, alimony, and others. To obtain temporary alimony, you must file a Motion for Temporary Order with the court. The motion can be filed along with the petition for divorce or afterward. Motions for temporary orders cannot be filed unless a complaint or petition for divorce is filed at the same time or the Petition For Divorce has already been filed beforehand.
To Respond to a Motion for a Temporary Alimony Order
If you agree with the other party’s motion for a temporary alimony order, you and your lawyer can work with your spouse and his/her attorneys to complete a Stipulation and have it filed with the court. If you decide that you oppose the motion, or do not agree with some part(s) of it, you and your attorney can complete a Statement Opposing the Motion and file it with the court, along with any supporting documents that should accompany it.
Modifying Alimony in Utah
It is sometimes possible to obtain a formal modification of the court orders concerning payment of alimony, whether you cannot continue paying the amount you are now paying or if you need to increase the amount that you are receiving. The court will not approve the request for a spousal support modification unless you can supply adequate grounds of the necessity of the change, and modifications are only available when there has been a material shift of circumstances that were unforeseeable at the time of the divorce.
Alimony Enforcement In Salt Lake City
If the spouse who has been ordered to pay alimony falls behind on the payments or simply refuses to continue paying, the recipient may file a motion in court requesting the judge to enforce the order. The result could be the issuance of a judgment in favor of the recipient, which may be used to obtain a wage garnishment or a lien on the property, or the paying party may even be charged with contempt of court and subjected to penalties, including fines and time in jail.
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Utah Alimony FAQ
- The ex-spouse does not meet the legally required level of financial need.
- You are not financially able to provide alimony to your ex-spouse.
- Your ex-spouse is at fault for the divorce, due to having an affair or another cause.
- Your ex-spouse has remarried or is cohabiting with someone who can meet his/her financial needs.
Alimony Calculator Utah
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