Farmington Hills Alimony Lawyer

Michigan attorney represents clients in spousal support matters

A spouse who relied on their partner’s income while they took care of the household and children should not suffer financial hardship if the marriage ends. Rosenbaum, Bloom, Meyerson & Galinsky, P.C. in Farmington Hills represents clients on both sides of spousal support disputes in divorces throughout Wayne, Macomb and Oakland Counties. Louis Galinsky is an accomplished Farmington Hills alimony lawyer who is a strong advocate for clients in settlement discussions, mediations and trials where spousal support is at issue.   

Types of alimony in Michigan

Though alimony is not automatically granted in a Michigan divorce, there are many cases where some form of spousal support is granted by the court. Within the state, spousal support can take one of the following four forms:

  • Temporary — A spouse who relies on their partner’s income might receive temporary alimony while the divorce is pending.
  • Lump-sum — Some couples choose to have the entire spousal support obligation paid in one lump sum rather than a series of payments over time.
  • Periodic — Sometimes referred to as “rehabilitative alimony,” periodic spousal support is designed to help a recipient ex-spouse meet their needs until they gain the education, job skills or experience necessary for them to provide for themselves.
  • Permanent — Most spousal support orders last for a limited time, but older stay-at-home spouses who were in long marriages, as well as those with a physical disability or those who must care for a special needs child around the clock, could qualify for alimony of unlimited duration.

The first step toward obtaining a favorable alimony result is understanding how the facts in your case apply to the relevant legal standards. Attorney Louis Galinsky can examine your situation and explain what type of spousal support would be awarded, if any.

Calculating alimony payments in Michigan

If parties to a divorce cannot agree on spousal support terms, Michigan judges have the discretion to determine what they think is fair. The state does not have any guideline or formula to calculate whether alimony should be granted and, if so, what the amount and duration should be. Accordingly, strong legal counsel is essential so that you can present a persuasive argument to the court if spousal support is in dispute.

Factors influencing alimony decisions

When divorcing spouses can achieve consensus on spousal support terms, judges can consider any information they believe to be pertinent when deciding whether to order spousal support, and if so, for how much and how long. Factors that commonly come into play during these evaluations include the following:

  • Length of the marriage
  • The age, health and earning ability of each party
  • The lifestyle of the couple while married
  • Childcare responsibilities
  • Each party’s contributions to the marital estate and their spouse’s career
  • The division of marital property

You should remember that changes in society have lessened the frequency and duration of alimony. Often, both spouses in a divorce have similar employment histories and qualifications, so ordering one party to pay the other might not be justified.

Negotiating alimony settlements

Disagreements over alimony often cause hard feelings, particularly for the spouse who is being asked to continue providing financial support for their ex while trying to start a new life. If possible, it’s usually best to reach mutual agreement on spousal support terms through negotiations or mediation. This way, both parties have a stake in the result and can craft a compromise that reflects each side’s priorities. As an attorney with extensive experience handling high net worth divorces, Louis Galinsky knows how to forge equitable alimony settlements even in the most complex and hotly contested cases.

Farmington Hills attorney helps with enforcing alimony orders

Failure to honor a spousal support obligation is not just a disagreement between former romantic partners, but a violation of a court order. If you’re not receiving full and timely payments, our firm can work immediately to correct the situation through effective communication or by petitioning the court to enforce its order through wage garnishment or the entry of a judgment. Even if your former spouse has a legitimate reason for falling short on payments, the correct step is to obtain a modification to the order rather than letting them evade their legal responsibility.  

Contact a Michigan lawyer for a free consultation about your alimony issue

Rosenbaum, Bloom, Meyerson & Galinsky, P.C. provides comprehensive divorce counsel to clients in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties, including advice on spousal support matters. Please call 248-200-2240 or contact us online to discuss your case in a free initial consultation. Our office is in Farmington Hills.