Pennsylvania Alimony Lawyers

Often, when spouses get divorced, they will either agree on alimony terms or a judge will order one spouse to pay the other alimony for a specified period of time. Whether you are seeking alimony, or you are being asked to pay alimony, a team of competent Pennsylvania alimony lawyers can assist.

Alimony Lawyers | Here for Clients in Pennsylvania

For decades, the attorneys here at Berman Voss have fought for clients facing challenging legal issues and are prepared to put their knowledge and experience to work for you.

Factors Considered When Determining Alimony in Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will consider a wide range of factors when determining whether to award alimony to one spouse after a divorce. Some of those factors are as follows:

• The age and health of both spouses;
• The duration of the marriage;
• Each spouse’s yearly earnings and future earnings potential;
• Whether there are any expected inheritances;
• The standard of living afforded during the marriage;
• The need and ability to pay alimony;
• Property belonging to either spouse prior to the marriage;
• Tax consequences;
• Whether an act of marital misconduct, such as adultery, resulted in the divorce; and
• Any other factor the court deems relevant

Ultimately, the judge’s goal is to determine an amount and duration that is “reasonable under the circumstances.”

Types of Alimony in Pennsylvania

There are two primary types of alimony in Pennsylvania: pendente lite alimony and post-divorce alimony. Pendente lite alimony comes in the form of regular alimony payments to the financially dependent spouse throughout the course of their divorce. Once the divorce is finalized, however, a judge will have to determine whether the individual should continue receiving alimony afterward. In this case, the judge will assess all of the aforementioned factors and will decide whether the individual shall continue receiving alimony payments, and if so, the duration and amount.

Though there is no such thing as “permanent” alimony in Pennsylvania, a judge can choose whether to order alimony for a specified period of time (e.g. five years) or for an indefinite period
of time. That said, there are certain factors that may warrant the modification or termination of an alimony agreement in the future. If you can prove that you have undergone a significant and continuing change, a judge may agree to modify the existing order.

Enforcing Alimony

An alimony order is a legally binding document. If your ex-spouse is refusing to make alimony payments as ordered by the court, you and your alimony lawyer can file a Motion for Enforcement. If you can prove a violation of the alimony agreement, the judge will take action, including the following:

• Garnishing their wages to put towards alimony;
• Enter a judgment against them;
• Authorize seizure of their property, rent, or other payments to put towards alimony; or
• In rare cases, declare them in contempt of court, which can warrant a jail sentence.

If you have any questions about how alimony works in Pennsylvania or are facing any type of alimony-related issue, please do not hesitate to contact an attorney at Berman Voss.