Financial complications are one of the more common marital issues that lead to divorce. There may be many factors contributing to those financial difficulties, one of which might be your spouse being unemployed. Whether your spouse is unemployed intentionally or unintentionally, this could make the divorce process a little sticky. With a Suffolk County Divorce Lawyer at Simonetti & Associates, we can help make it a smoother process. Below are some of the things you should be aware of during the process:
- Child support – This typically paid for by the parent who does not have custody of the children, whether employed or unemployed. When unemployed, the court can impute income, which allows them to credit the parent who does not currently have a steady income. Courts usually pay the parent based on the child’s needs, not the parents. Your Suffolk County divorce lawyer can help you figure out what that amount might be.
- Alimony – An unemployed spouse can also ask for alimony. While the divorce is pending, you may have to pay alimony until they are able to secure a job. If your spouse is unemployed due to a disability, paying alimony may be indefinite.
What happens in cases of voluntary unemployment?
Believe it or not, some spouses are unemployed to intentionally make the divorce process drag on. If your spouse is purposely unemployed out of spite, the judge will take this into consideration when making their final ruling. The judge may rule that your spouse has to find a job as soon as possible and pay the necessary payments that are owed. The judge may also impute income until your spouse has found a source of income.
What happens in cases of involuntary unemployment?
Finding a job can be difficult depending on your qualifications. If your spouse is truly trying to find a job but is not having any luck, the judge may rule that the noncustodial spouse owe less child support as well as alimony. They may still be held responsible to pay it once they have secured a job and have established a steady income though.
Contact a Suffolk County divorce lawyer:
The divorce process can be long and seem to take forever. With a Suffolk County divorce lawyer at Simonetti & Associates, we can help make it a little easier! Divorce is enough to stress about without finances involved. Let our team take care of you and give you the proper guidance when it comes to dealing with an unemployed spouse. Contact us today to set up your FREE initial consultation!
