Divorce in CT—Alimony Aspects Explained
You need to consider different areas when getting divorced. Start with gathering information about the divorce papers, filing procedures, divorce types, waiting periods, and court and lawyer fees. You should also get familiar with spousal support requirements.
What should you know about divorce in CT, alimony in particular? DoNotPay provides the details in this useful article!
Who Qualifies for Alimony in Connecticut?
The court can award alimony in CT if the requesting spouse proves:
- Financial need for support
- Other spouse's ability to pay alimony
Aside from these two key criteria, the judge will also consider the following factors:
- The duration of your marriage
- The division of property in the divorce
- The spouse who receives child support
- Marital assets (houses, vehicles, retirement accounts, etc.)
- Each spouse’s:
- Age
- Skills
- Health
- Income
- Profession
- Employability
- Need for financial support
Alimony Types in Connecticut
There are three types of alimony in Connecticut—temporary, rehabilitative, and permanent. To understand them better, take a look at the following table:
| Alimony Type | Specifics |
|---|---|
| Temporary | This type of alimony is also called pendente lite because the court can order this alimony:
Temporary alimony helps a lesser-earning spouse make ends meet during the divorce proceedings |
| Rehabilitative | Rehabilitative—also called short-term—alimony is awarded if a spouse needs time and financial resources to become self-supporting and while:
The court sets an end date to rehabilitative spousal support |
| Permanent | The judge may order this type of alimony if a spouse can’t become financially independent because of their:
|
If you file for a fault-based divorce, the judge could also take into account the reasons for the divorce, including:
- Adultery
- Cruel treatment
- Willful desertion
These grounds can influence the type, duration, and amount of the awarded alimony.
Divorce in CT—Alimony Payments
If you let the judge make a decision on the frequency of alimony payments, it will usually be settled periodically, i.e., on a bi-weekly or monthly basis.
Most courts issue an income withholding order that includes:
- Details about the amount and frequency of alimony
- Instructions for the paying spouse’s employer to decrease the paycheck and direct the awarded amount to the receiving spouse
If the paying spouse has substantial funds, the judge might order a lump-sum alimony payment. Keep in mind that if a spouse fails to settle the ordered financial support, they can be fined or even jailed.
Can You Change or End an Alimony Award?
You can ask for a modification or termination of spousal support if some circumstances change. For instance, if the receiving spouse:
- Remarries
- Starts living with another partner
- Doesn’t have the same financial needs because of new living arrangements
Keep in mind that you cannot require any changes to the awarded support if:
- The court ordered a non-modifiable alimony
- You and your spouses agreed in writing that alimony cannot be modified
Negotiate Alimony Terms With Your Spouse in an Amicable Settlement
If you and your spouse negotiate and reach an out-of-court agreement on all divorce aspects—including alimony—you can file the papers for an uncontested divorce. This no-fault and friendly type of divorce saves money and time since you can:
- Fill out and file the necessary court forms on your own
- Go to divorce mediation if you need help working out certain matters
- Complete all the divorce steps alone, i.e., go through a DIY divorce
At the same time, you don’t need to appoint an expensive divorce attorney to prepare the documentation and represent you in court.
Once you agree on all relevant matters, you need to specify them in a divorce settlement agreement. The judge will review the document, and if it is fair and in compliance with state laws, they will approve it.
Do you need help creating a divorce settlement agreement? Sign up for DoNotPay to meet all necessary legal requirements in a fast and affordable way!
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Instead, you should use our AI-powered app that is familiar with all state laws and will incorporate your specific agreement details into the required legal framework.
What should you do? Open DoNotPay and:
- Locate the Divorce Settlement Agreement product
- Answer our chatbot’s questions about your child, assets, debts, etc.
- Choose if you’d like to get the agreement notarized
Once you’ve provided the necessary data, we’ll generate the agreement tailored to your situation.
Explore DoNotPay’s Knowledge Base 24/7
If you’d like to collect relevant information on divorce-specific topics, you could browse through our website. Here are some questions we provide answers to:
- How can you get a low-cost divorce?
- Do you need divorce mediation?
- Can you file for divorce online?
- What are your options when serving the divorce papers to your spouse?
- Could you get a free divorce?
- Where can you collect free divorce papers?
- Should you file for divorce if you’re still living with your spouse?
- Can you get divorced without visiting the court?
- How can you get a quickie divorce?
- What’s the right way to divide debts in a divorce?
- Should you get divorced because of your in-laws?
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