In the state of Illinois, family law encompasses a wide range of legal matters related to marriage, divorce, child custody, and other related concerns. Financial issues will be some of the most important aspects of many divorce cases, and in some situations, one spouse may believe that they should receive alimony payments from their former partner. Alimony is known as spousal maintenance under Illinois family law, and it will typically consist of monthly payments made for a certain period of time after the end of a couple’s marriage. When determining how to address maintenance during your divorce, an experienced attorney can provide guidance on how Illinois law will apply in your situation.
Understanding Maintenance in Illinois
Maintenance is not automatically granted in every divorce case in Illinois. The purpose is to ensure that both spouses will have sufficient financial resources to meet their ongoing needs and maintain a standard of living that is close to what they enjoyed while they were married. A person who requests spousal maintenance from their former partner will typically need to demonstrate that ongoing support is needed to ensure that they can cover ongoing expenses and avoid financial difficulties.
A family court judge may consider various factors before awarding maintenance, including:
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