Reset. For example, as was mentioned in one of the 14 factors above, soon-to-be ex-spouses may trade liquid assets or debts in lieu of making periodic alimony payments (known as an alimony buyout.) But also -- as my daughter Liz turns 18 tomorrow -- I wanted to say thank you for all of your hard work on the case involving Liz. A couple has been married for 25 years. Tax deductions are essential when it comes to the bottom line, so the alimony deduction was beneficial for financial purposes. background-image: -moz-linear-gradient(top,#000988,#000764); Sometimes courts refer to temporary support as "status quo" payments. These fears are typical for couples seeking a divorce in Michigan, and have one main thing in common: When it comes to money and divorce, there is no topic that's more painful to think about, more sensitive to discuss, and more challenging to resolve than this one. . View Sitemap. If you have low income, you may qualify for free legal services. The purpose of spousal support is to ensure that each spouse can meet financial needs during and after the divorce process. This Michigan alimony calculator makes estimated Michigan maintenance calculations. We know that divorce is difficult for everyone involved and we want to make the process as easy as possible. This is common when a judge deems a spouse to be able to become self-supporting, but not immediately. The judge will take into account whether a party lives with another person and how this affects their financial situation. If you qualify for support, the court will determine what kind of support is best for your situation. The judge will take into account the earning potential and professional possibilities of each spouse. If you have low income, you may qualify for free legal services. Each factor does not have to be given equal weight by the judge. Are Workers Comp Benefits Factored in a Michigan Divorce Settlement? Judges take into account the following variables in addition to the length of the marriage: The amount of alimony paid is mostly determined by the salaries of both spouses. The duration of payments is determined by a judge in Michigan family court. According to the Supreme Courts ruling, alimony payments should not exceed 25% of the husbands earnings. The child support formula is based on each parent's income, the number of children, the amount of parenting time each child spends with each parent, and certain child-related expenses. The court sometimes also awards temporary support in addition to the status quo payments if there's a need and a significant discrepancy in income. The information provided on this site is not legal advice, does not constitute a lawyer referral service, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or will be formed by use of the site. The average cost of divorce is nearly $13,000. You are my heroine! And while the purpose can vary greatly from couple to couple, in our experience it is primarily paid and/or received for two reasons. When computing the score of the spouse requesting alimony, the programme used by Michigan judges assigns up to 30% of the available score to the length of the marriage. Upper Limits on Alimony and One Judge's Informal "40% Rule" A few state laws set caps on the amount of alimony. Contact The Mitten Law Firm today to speak confidentially with an expert to determine what your best course of action is. Similarly, if the party who is not working previously had a job that provided them with a significant income, and they left that job voluntarily, that too could be considered when discussing alimony; (12)Your health. Under Michigan's prompt payment law, if a payment is delayed beyond the statutory deadline, the unpaid party "may include reasonable interest on amounts past due in the next request for payment.". The person receiving the alimony does not have to report the alimony payments as income. If that's the case, there may not be enough money for one ex-spouse to pay alimony to the other ex-spouse; (11)Your current living situations. She's working and growing up into a beautiful, mature young lady. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, the prior standard of living of the parties and whether the parties support other dependents, each parties' contribution to the marital estate, how cohabitation affects a party's financial status, and, the recipient spouse cohabiting with a new partner (not enough by itself). The child support to be paid is determined using a formula outlined in Michigan law. Ill take you through my proven, step-by-step process and help you and your spouse negotiate and come to an agreement (out of court) on alimony that's fair to both of you.". The starting place for most Michigan spousal support conversations is the marital lifestyle. Whether the divorce was precipitated by the behavior of one of the spouses. All Rights Reserved. Whether you have a low income or not, you can use the Guide to Legal Help to find lawyers in your area. Take care and all the best to you! /*