Written by It shouldn’t come as a surprise that a divorce can cause drastic changes in you, your family and your financial situation. Spousal support is financial support awarded after a divorce by your former spouse. It sounds like a relatively simple concept, but there are factors that go into this decision that will determine if you will receive spousal support payments, how much and how often. Although there is no exact formula for determining the amount of spousal support you are eligible to receive in Virginia, there are guidelines set forth to help the court decide the outcome. You might also hear the term “alimony”, but in Virginia, alimony is referred to as spousal support.
Enforcement Of Spousal Support
If one party is ordered to pay spousal support to the other party and does not uphold those payments set forth by a court, the receiving party is able to take the non-paying party to court for not abiding by the order of the court.
Virginia law does allow the court to enter an income deduction order. The court can order the the non-paying spouse’s employer to deduct the spousal support amount from the employee’s paycheck and to pay it to the receiving spouse.
Taxing Spousal Support
In Virginia, the spouse who receives spousal support payments is required to pay taxes on the amount because it is considered to be a form of income.
What Factors Determine The Amount And Duration?
The courts consider multiple factors to determine the amount of support, the duration of the payments, and how often the receiving spouse should be paid. These factors include:
The existing financial resources of each spouse
The present and future earning capacity of each spouse
The standard of living while the marriage existed
The ability of the supporting party to make the payments
The current and future needs of each party, including minor children
Any special circumstances of the family
Decisions made with regard to rearing the children that affected careers
Any other factors, including the tax consequences, that should be taken into consideration to make sure the award is equitable
Our Virginia Divorce Lawyers Can Help Guide You Through This Process
Whether you have concerns over spousal support or if you are in the midst of your divorce process, our Manassas Divorce attorneys can help protect your interests and well-being. We invite you to discuss your spousal support issues with one of our experienced attorneys. Contact us today at (703) 844-4118.
The Irving Law Firm
9253 Mosby St., 2nd Floor
Manassas, VA 20110
(703) 844-4118
https://www.TheIrvingLawFirm.com/