When your Pennsylvania marriage ends and your former spouse was the main breadwinner in your relationship, you may decide to ask for him or her for alimony. Whether you receive alimony, and if so, how much you might get and for how long, depends on a variety of different variables.
Per the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the following are among the factors the state considers when deciding whether to award you alimony in your divorce.
The duration of your marriage
While marriage length, alone, does not necessarily decide if you get alimony, your chances often increase if your marriage was a long one.
The earning capacities of both parties
Courts also consider the earning potential of you and your former partner when making alimony awards. If you have not worked for quite a while and lack the skills most desired by today’s employers, this may boost your chances of getting alimony.
The contributions of each party to the marriage
Expect the contributions you made to the marriage to also carry weight when you ask for alimony. For example, if you sacrificed your own career or education so that your spouse could move forward with his or hers, this may work in your favor.
The standard of living you had during the marriage
The standard of living you enjoyed during your marriage may also help determine if you get alimony in your divorce. Typically, courts try to make to so the standard of living you have after a divorce is similar to the one you had during the marriage.
While these are some of the factors that help decide if you get alimony in your divorce, this is not an exhaustive list of all variables that might factor into final decisions.