Divorce can be an emotional roller coaster for everyone involved. The issues which come up, like child custody and property division, may strain an already damaged relationship even further. You may think that alimony is one issue which will need to be dealt with, but did you know that it can be ordered before the divorce is even final?
While the divorce proceeding is ongoing
Most everyone is familiar with the concept of alimony – it is money paid from one spouse to the other after they’re divorced. It is intended to help the receiving spouse maintain a certain standard of living. But what if that spouse needs help immediately?
Consider the following example: a couple makes the decision to divorce. One spouse has been the primary earner for the family while the other spouse remains home and cares for the children. The stay-at-home spouse earns little to no income of their own. When they decide to divorce, the earning spouse moves out of the home, thereby removing the only source of income.
How will the stay-at-home spouse pay the mortgage, other bills or provide for the children? This is when temporary spousal support comes in. It exists for those circumstances where a significant financial disparity exists, while the divorce is ongoing, between the two spouses.
Temporary spousal support is not granted by the court automatically. The spouse seeking it must specifically ask the court to order it. The court then reviews the circumstances of the parties and, if it finds sufficient justification, will order alimony payments until the divorce is final. Once the court issues the final divorce judgement, temporary spousal support comes to an end.