5 Questions to Ask an Alimony Attorney
Personal Injury Lawyer
If you’re getting a divorce from your spouse and considering asking for alimony, it’s important to consult with an experienced alimony and divorce lawyer. Requesting alimony can be pretty nerve-wracking and you don’t want to get taken advantage of. However, with so many different alimony attorneys out there, how do you choose the right one? By asking the right questions during your consultation.
Here are some good questions to ask an alimony attorney:
How Many Years of Experience Do You Have?
Negotiating alimony is a big ordeal, so you want an attorney on your side who has many years of experience. It’s important to select an attorney who has specific experience dealing with spousal support cases. You don’t want to hire an attorney who only has a couple years of experience in the field. Typically, the more years of experience an attorney has, the better results you will get.
Do I Have a Good Chance of Getting Alimony?
Contrary to popular belief, not everyone is entitled to receive spousal support. No one is guaranteed spousal support regardless of how long they have been married. The judge will consider several factors before deciding to award alimony, such as the needs of the spouse requesting alimony and the ability of the supporting spouse to pay alimony. For example if your spouse was the breadwinner in the marriage and you stayed home, you may have a good chance of getting alimony. Your attorney can assess your situation and determine if you have a good shot at receiving spousal support.
Is Health Insurance Included in Alimony?
If you depended on your spouse for health insurance during your marriage, the judge could include it in your alimony. However, you must be able to prove to the judge that you can’t buy independent health insurance or get a job where health insurance is provided.
How Long Will I Receive Alimony?
Alimony won’t last forever. How long you receive payments will depend on many factors, such as the length of your marriage and why alimony was granted in the first place. For example, if you’re able-bodied and have the ability to support yourself in the future, you may just receive temporary alimony while you complete the necessary education or training for a career. Once you’re able to support yourself, your alimony will likely end.
How Many Cases Are You Currently Handling?
Before you hire an alimony attorney, it’s important to find out how many cases he or she is working on. While it’s good for an attorney to be busy, you don’t want him or her to be drowning in different cases. If an alimony attorney has too many cases on his or her plate, he or she can’t give your case the attention it deserves.