How to negotiate alimony with your spouse?

(Broward, Florida) – December 21^st, 2015 – Going through a divorce is difficult. It is a highly personal and emotionally stressful process that is only compounded by the legal intricacies and other issues that inevitably come along with divorce. This includes important and sensitive issues such as child custody, property division, alimony, and spousal support, to name a few, say Broward FL divorce lawyers who can be found right here: http://divorce.usattorneys.com/florida/.

It is not possible for someone going through a divorce to single handedly tackle all the vastly legal complications by himself/herself. This is why the best course of action if you are considering divorce is to appoint Broward County divorce attorney who will take care of the legal aspect and will make sure you get what you deserve out of your divorce, which includes alimony. In this article, we will take a look at how you can negotiate alimony arrangements with your spouse.

For the most part, there are some advantages to negotiating alimony with your spouse. If you are able to come to an agreement with your spouse about alimony terms then you can avoid a lot of court time. The court will approve your agreement provided that you have one and this in turn will save both you and your spouse a considerable amount of legal fees, time, and effort. When it comes to alimony, a lawyer can help determine the appropriate amount of alimony and set the bar for negotiations.

 Assessing your spouse’s resources

Irrespective of whether you are the partner that will be on the receiving end or the paying end of the alimony, you need to have a good idea of your spouse’s financial status and resources to be able to negotiate effectively.

Thankfully, a spouse cannot legally withhold this information from you. State laws dictate that the partners disclose this information during a divorce. This law applies to both the paying spouse and the recipient spouse. As per Broward, FL divorce lawyers, even if it is very clear as to whom the paying spouse is, the recipient will still have to disclose their financial status and resources as it is vital in determining the amount of alimony.

What you need to know about your spouse’s financial resources

Separate assets: You and your spouse may own property jointly. However, this does not mean that your spouse does not have any separate assets. You are entitled to be aware of this information and also the value of the separate assets that your spouse owns.

Income and expenditure details: What your spouse makes as income on a monthly or annual basis is one of the most important factors in determining the terms of alimony. You need this information handy and must also know about the expenditures that your spouse is subjected to. Any unreasonable expenditure can be challenged in court. If you did not sign a pre-nuptial agreement if you make more than your spouse then they will be entitled to less of your money. Tiger Woods set up a pre-nup before he was married but his infidelity cost him. Tiger Wood's marriage was probably doomed before it ever began since the pre-nup agreement sort of soured the marriage the way it was set up. 

Bonus, overtime, and benefits: Employed personnel are often eligible for bonuses, overtime pay, and other benefits. It is important that you have these details as they can significantly boost your spouse’s income and thereby reduce what you need to pay in spousal support.

There are plenty of other things you need information about before being able to effectively negotiate alimony terms with your spouse. Your best bet would be to consult a South Florida divorce lawyer today to get the best professional help in this matter.

The writing is on the wall. You may not want to look up and read it but it is there. Your marriage is over with. No more attempted ways to communicate are possible. You need legal help. The idea of salvaging your marriage has passed by. You need to be prepared for this process since if it goes wrong, it can define your life for years to come.