Parting ways with your Tennessee spouse often proves unnerving, and regardless of whether the split was your decision, you may have valid concerns about how your life is going to go in the absence of your husband or wife. If, for example, you were not the primary breadwinner in your marriage, you may decide to pursue alimony in an effort to keep the standard of living you currently enjoy. At Peterson White LLP, we are well-versed in the criteria the state of Tennessee considers when making decisions regarding alimony, and we have helped many people looking to secure alimony take steps to help make it happen.
According to the Tennessee Bar Association, Tennessee courts are responsible for making decisions regarding whether to grant alimony in divorces and if so, how much alimony one party is going to receive and for how long. Courts also have the discretion to decide whether the paying spouse should pay alimony in monthly, semimonthly or weekly installments, among other possible arrangements.
If the state does, in fact, decide that alimony should come into play in a divorce case, it typically reviews a broad variety of factors to determine the amount and duration of the alimony arrangement. These factors may vary to some degree from one divorce case to the next. However, most courts are going to strongly consider the length of the marriage, each party’s contributions to the marriage and the age and physical condition and health of each party before making determinations.
The court also typically considers the future earning potential and employability of each party when issuing alimony-related determinations. If one party, for example, decided not to attend college or work for the sake of the family unit, that person may be more likely to receive alimony than he or she might otherwise. Other factors, too, may come into play when courts decide whether to award alimony. Find more about family law, divorce and related topics on our webpage.