Alimony Lawyer in Peoria

Determination of alimony payments, or “spousal maintenance,” as it is now termed in the Illinois family court system, is often the most contested step of a divorce settlement. Whether or not spousal maintenance will be part of the settlement and how much payments will be is not a cut-and-dried matter. Many factors are taken into consideration for each unique case in the attempt to create a fair distribution.

Getting a Divorce in the Peoria Area? Get the Help of a Proven Alimony Lawyer

Nothing about a divorce is easy. Spousal maintenance leads to more disagreements and disputes between the soon-to-be former spouses than any other step in the dissolution of marriage. Our alimony attorneys in Peoria understand what’s on the line when you are going through a divorce. Founder Rob Hanauer knows how to strike a perfect balance between being a calming confidant and an aggressive presence while representing you and protecting your rights and best interests. It’s a talent every family lawyer and legal professional on our team shares.

Two people sitting across from each other with paperwork and wedding rings on the table.

We Do It All and Do It Well When It Comes to Divorce and Family Law

Contact us today to discuss your case in an initial consultation. From child custody and child support to orders of protection and family law appeals—plus everything in between—our extensive skill and experience get our clients the results they need and deserve.

Is Spousal Maintenance Mandatory?

In a word, no. Unlike child support, there is no law that requires alimony or spousal support be paid after a divorce. A judge must weigh over a dozen different factors specific to the case in order to decide if alimony is to be paid at all.

Common factors in this decision include:

Annual net income of each spouse
The length of the marriage
The standard of living in the marriage
Age of each spouse
The health of each spouse
The job skills and earning potential of each spouse

Alimony / Spousal Maintenance Calculator

Except where the gross annual income of both spouses combined is $500,000 or more, as in a high net worth divorce, alimony can be estimated by taking 33% of the paying spouse’s net annual income and subtracting 25% of the receiving spouse’s net annual income. Divide this amount by 12 and you have a rough estimate of the monthly spousal support payment. However, the annual amount can’t be greater than 40% of the spouse’s combined net annual income.

However, since we are dealing with the livelihood, finances, and well-being of people when it comes to determining how much alimony is to be paid, it can’t just come down to a cold, unthinking calculation. As noted above, there are many fluid factors involved that the court must consider. That being said, the calculator below gives one a fairly accurate picture of how much spousal maintenance can be expected in a divorce case.

For How Long Will Alimony Be Paid?

There are three types of spousal maintenance:

Temporary

Usually granted during divorce proceedings as a temporary measure to ensure a spouse is not put at a severe disadvantage while the divorce agreements are being settled.

Short-Term

For instances while a spouse is training or undergoing education for a profession or job skill to attain self-sufficiency.

Permanent

In cases involving marriages of 20 years or more, spousal support may be granted for the length of the marriage or for life depending on the circumstances.

Additional calculations for how long payments must be made are determined according to a percentage of the years that the marriage existed; the longer the marriage, the longer the percentage. Some examples are as follows:

Length of Marriage	Approximate Period of Spousal Maintenance Payments
5 years	1 year
10 years	4 years
15 years	9 years
20 years	16 years

Contact a Spousal Maintenance Lawyer with Hanauer Law to Get All Your Questions Answered

An alimony attorney in Peoria can help you through any divorce situation. No matter how complicated or messy the scene, we’ll have your back and give you the legal support and protection you need.