When dividing marital property between divorcing spouses, courts in the state of Alabama strive to divide property between the couple in an equitable manner. Equitable is a term that means courts will divide property in a manner that is fair rather than equal. When a court in Alabama determines how to divide a couple’s marital property, courts frequently analyze the future earnings of each spouse.
To make sure that a court fully appreciates the value that a spouse added to the marriage, couples frequently turn to the services of a skilled Birmingham divorce attorney. Individuals also frequently benefit from knowing the basic elements concerning how a court in Alabama treats a divorcing couple’s earning potential.
There are several factors that courts in Alabama will analyze when determining a spouse’s earning capacity.
While courts in the state of Alabama tend to begin alimony determination by comparing the income of spouses, courts frequently consider potential income for spouses who are not directly receiving income when the situation warrants. Some of the situations where courts will impute income include when one spouse is deliberately unemployed or underemployed in an effort to lower support payments.
When performing property division, courts frequently consider the contribution of a spouse who maintained a home provided to the earning capacity of the other spouse. In analyzing earning capacity, courts might determine that the benefited spouse’s earning capacity is a marital assets and provides compensation to a spouse who support the family.
While not directly part of property division, spousal support is often used by courts in the state of Alabama to account for one spouse’s earning capacity. If a spouse remained at home to take care of the home and resultantly had to place a career on pause, a court is likely to award spousal support as a means to help a spouse rejoin the workforce.
In some situations, divorce courts in the state of Alabama may even award longer lasting support orders to account for individuals whose earning capacity was lowered for a longer period as a result of divorce. In situations where both spouses are young and work, a court in Alabama might decide not to award any alimony.
If you are involved in a divorce, it is a wise idea to contact a seasoned Birmingham divorce attorney who knows how to demonstrate to a court the exact value of an individual’s earning capacity during a marriage.
$2,000 -FOR- 3 months
Many divorces can be completed in this time.
$10,000 -FOR- 1 year
Some divorces require longer than three months to complete.
Customized divorces and complex cases can range from $5,000 to more than $100,000, depending on a variety of factors, such as case complexity, assets, and child custody. Additional payment options are available.