No, not all divorces in Rochester include alimony, also known as spousal support or maintenance.
For couples whose incomes are similar, or where a lower-earning spouse has an earning capacity beyond their current employment, maintenance may not be required to transition one spouse from married to single life.
Maintenance is decided based on many considerations, including the length of the marriage, each spouse’s age and health condition, their earning potential and educational background, parenting duties and roles, and what opportunities one spouse may have passed up in order to allow the other spouse to advance in his or her career.
Spousal maintenance can serve as an important transitional element as a spouse moves from married life to independence, but an improperly negotiated settlement can trap the other spouse in unaffordable payments that don’t serve the intended purpose.
When you’re divorcing in Rochester, call the attorneys at Friedman & Ranzenhofer at 585-484-7432 for a legal consultation.