ALIMONY
Alimony and Maintenance in Illinois
In Illinois, spousal maintenance or support is commonly referred to as "alimony."
When a marriage ends, the spouse who traditionally earned less or no income during the marriage may be awarded maintenance or alimony.
Maintenance Calculator
While there is a statutory formula for maintenance calculation, determining the amount and even the duration of support is not always a simple matter.
Under Illinois law, maintenance is paid (or received) for a determined amount of time to enable the lesser-earning spouse to achieve a standard of living to eventually become financially independent in a shorter-term marriage, or to achieve a standard of living proximate to the former married lifestyle if the marriage was long term.
Maintenance is now no longer taxable to the recipient and tax-deductible to the payor.
The calculation of each parties’ respective gross and net household incomes, from earnings and from maintenance received or paid, is important for planning for life after the divorce.
Are you Entitled to Maintenance?
There must first be a determination if a spouse should receive maintenance.
There are over a dozen factors in the Illinois statute which could have an impact on the amount and possibly the duration of maintenance.
Some of Illinois' maintenance factors include:
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the income and property of each party (non-marital and marital)
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the needs of each party
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the realistic present and future earning capacities of the parties
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any impairment of present and future earning capacities of the parties
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the time necessary to enable the party seeking maintenance to acquire the appropriate education, training, and employment to support him/herself
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the standard of living established during the marriage
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the duration of the the marriage
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the tax consequences to each party
It takes a skilled attorney with years of practical experience to guide a client through this process, and to assess which factors weigh greater in that spouse’s favor to properly calculate support.
We Work to Maximize Your Results
Our lawyers are sophisticated professionals who have represented both men and women seeking spousal support, and alternatively, defending against paying maintenance. Protection of a client’s financial future is key to our representation in divorce proceedings.
Alimony or spousal support is referred to in Illinois as maintenance. When a marriage ends, the income and financial assets are divided and each former spouse builds a new and separate life.
Contact Ciesla Beeler Today
The decisions made during a divorce may impact your financial health for years to come. It is in your best interests to consult with attorneys who have the skills and experience necessary to protect your interests. At Ciesla Beeler we have the experience and knowledge to help you with your maintenance and alimony issues.
Our attorneys are recognized throughout Illinois and are ready to meet with you to assess your case and provide sound legal strategies to address your situation. Contact us today via email info@cieslabeeler.com or call 847.868.1860 for your free consultation.
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