Types of Spousal Support in North Carolina

If you are approaching a divorce in North Carolina, you might be concerned about something called “spousal support.” For those who do not know, this is virtually the same thing as “alimony,” and it can provide spouses with financial support after the marriage has ended. Spouses may be concerned about alimony for a number of important reasons. Some may worry that their alimony payments will not be enough to cover even the most basic expenses. Others may wonder whether they will receive any alimony at all. “Paying” spouses also have their own concerns about alimony, and they often fear that these spousal support payments will be ruinously high.

Whatever the case may be, it is important to understand that there are many different types of alimony in the state of North Carolina. When you understand the various different types of spousal support, it becomes much easier to navigate your divorce.

If you are looking to gain a more complete understanding of how spousal support works in the Tar Heel State, your best bet is to get in touch with an experienced family law attorney as soon as possible. During your initial consultation, you can discuss your unique situation in-depth. Based on this information, your attorney can offer targeted, personalized legal advice. You can also learn more about the various types of alimony that might be ordered in the state of North Carolina, and whether a certain type of spousal support may apply to your situation.

One of the first types of alimony you will encounter is something called “post-separation support.” As the name implies, this occurs after spouses separate, but before they divorce. These payments continue until the divorce is finalized, and they are intended to provide the receiving spouse with enough money to move out, pay for legal expenses, pay for basic living expenses, and so on. Without this type of alimony in place, the fear is that some spouses would not dare file for divorce because doing so would make them destitute. Keep in mind that this type of alimony is not permanent, and it will likely be modified to some extent when the divorce is finalized. In many cases, the receiving spouse is no longer awarded any further support payments once the divorce is finalized.

As the name implies, this type of alimony is paid all at once. In contrast, other forms of alimony are paid in monthly installments. There are a few notable benefits of lump-sum spousal support, but most spouses opt for monthly installment instead.

Permanent alimony is actually quite rare in the modern era, as most spousal support has an end date. Permanent alimony may be awarded if the divorcing spouses are very old, or if they have been married for many, many decades.

Temporary alimony is by far the most common type of spousal support, and as the name suggests, this type of alimony eventually comes to an end. The duration of temporary alimony depends on a number of factors, including the length of the marriage.

Many states have something called “rehabilitative alimony.” This is when spouses are awarded payments to help them “get back on their feet,” and the duration of these spousal support payments reflect the amount of time it takes for someone to gain a new degree, complete training programs, and generally work their way back into the job market. Once a spouse becomes self-sufficient, the alimony stops.

North Carolina is not one of the states that recognizes rehabilitative alimony. However, certain aspects of rehabilitative alimony may be present in temporary alimony awards.

If you have been searching for a family law attorney in North Carolina, look no further than Arnold & Smith, PLLC. Over the years, we have assisted a number of spouses in the Tar Heel State, and we understand that spousal support may be one of your central concerns as you head towards divorce. Rest assured that we can explain how this all works in a clear, concise manner – giving you greater confidence about your post-divorce financial planning. What is more, we can help you strive for the best possible alimony outcome. Reach out and book your consultation today to explore your legal options in greater detail.