Orland Park Spousal Maintenance Lawyer

Attorneys for Spousal Support and Alimony in Mokena and New Lenox

When you are planning to get a divorce, you are probably feeling overwhelmed with the many legal issues that you will need to address. When you add in the emotional struggles that come with the breakup of your marriage and concerns about your ability to support yourself financially, you may feel like you are being buried in an avalanche of problems. For some people, spousal maintenance can address some of these concerns, providing them with the financial resources they need after divorce. Whether you expect to receive or pay maintenance, you need the assistance of a skilled divorce lawyer to ensure that your needs will be met.

The family law attorneys of Wakenight & Associates, P.C. have more than 95 years of combined experience, and we understand the legal and financial issues that must be addressed and resolved when determining spousal support obligations. With our help, you can make sure you are prepared for success as you move on to your new life after your divorce has been finalized.

Spousal Maintenance in Illinois

Following divorce, both spouses should be able to maintain the same standard of living they were used to while married. For some people, this is not possible at their current income level, since their former spouse earned the majority of the family's income, and stay at home parents may be especially concerned about their ability to support themselves and their children. Spouses who earn a minority of a household's income may be eligible to receive financial support from their former partner. While this support is often called alimony or spousal support, it is known as spousal maintenance under Illinois law.

The amount of spousal maintenance payments and the duration that they will be paid is determined using specific guidelines. However, it will first need to be determined whether a spouse is eligible to receive maintenance, and in many cases, a spouse will need to make a case to a judge for why they should receive support. Illinois law provides a number of factors that a judge should consider in these cases, including:

• The income each spouse earns, the property allocated to them during divorce, their financial obligations and needs, and their age, health, occupation, education, and sources of income.
• Each spouse's earning capacity, both immediately and in the future.
• Whether the earning ability of the spouse seeking to receive maintenance payments has been impacted by their decision to pursue family responsibilities in favor of career opportunities.
• Whether the spouse seeking to receive maintenance will require education or training in order to be able to support themselves financially.
• Whether the spouse seeking maintenance made contributions to the other spouse's education or career.
• How decisions about the allocation of parental responsibility will affect spouses' ability to work and earn an income.
• The tax consequences of decisions about maintenance.
• Any prenuptial or postnuptial agreements the spouses have made.

Contact a Frankfort Spousal Support Attorney

If you are concerned about your ability to support yourself after completing your divorce, you should work with an experienced divorce attorney to address issues related to spousal maintenance. Or, if you are concerned about how much alimony you may be required to pay, Wakenight & Associates, P.C. can advocate for you as well. Contact our office today by calling 815-727-6144 to arrange a free consultation. We represent clients in spousal maintenance cases in Mokena, Orland Park, New Lenox, Tinley Park, Oak Forest, Homer Glen, Orland Hills, Joliet, Lockport, and Will County.