Calculating Spousal Support In PA

When a marriage ends, it is not uncommon for one spouse to require help from the other spouse in making ends meet. No matter what their lifestyle, learning how to live on a single income can be more than they may have bargained for. With this in mind, PA alimony laws allow for financial support in three forms: spousal support, alimony pendente lite (APL), and alimony.

These legal terms refer to assistance during your separation, for the interim of your divorce proceedings, and upon the finalization of your divorce, respectively. However, for the purposes of this article, we will be focusing on which spouse will be able to obtain support and how this amount will be calculated without regard to which phase of your divorce you are currently in.

Who Is Entitled to Spousal Support?

Spouses who earn significantly less money will be the ones who have the right to seek financial assistance from their ex. This is because when a couple chooses to divorce in PA, both spouses have the right to continue living the lifestyle they have grown accustomed to as a married couple.

More importantly, spouses who have not worked in years, those who have limited vocational skills, and individuals with physical and mental limitations may have been entirely dependent on the higher-earning spouse and will more than likely be entitled to support until they are able to provide for themselves—or for the rest of their lives, depending on how debilitating or permanent their condition is.

Elements of a Spousal Support Calculation

Not only does physical and mental health come into play when determining how much support will be paid and for how long, but there are many other contributing factors that will be considered by the Pennsylvania courts.

Some of these elements include how much money both spouses make, how long you were married for, what each spouse’s living expenses amount to, and whether you share children. If you do have children together, their education, healthcare, and extracurricular activity expenses will also be factored in.

Your attorney will work for you to obtain a reasonable spousal support award if you are seeking assistance and will do everything possible to ensure you are not ordered to pay more than is fair if you are the higher-earning spouse who may be required to pay spousal support.

Contact a Family Law Attorney in PA

The total amount of spousal support that can be ordered in Pennsylvania will depend on a variety of factors, as described above. Consult with a PA family law attorney at Lisa Marie Vari & Associates, P.C. for more information on spousal support calculations and all of your family law needs.

You can complete the brief contact form we included below or give our firm a call at 1-844-VARI-LAW (827-4529) and we will be in touch to schedule your case assessment at your earliest convenience.