The Four Forms of Spousal Maintenance in Illinois

Spousal maintenance is reserved for specific divorce situations, and many divorces bypass the issue entirely. When appropriate, however, spousal maintenance can play an important role in the divorce settlement process. Spousal maintenance is a complicated legal matter, to begin with, and the fact that there are four separate varieties can make things that much more challenging. If you have questions or concerns related to spousal maintenance, reach out to an experienced Joliet spousal maintenance attorney today.  

Spousal Maintenance

What you likely think of as alimony is called spousal maintenance in the State of Illinois. Spousal maintenance is intended to help a spouse who is disadvantaged by divorce retain the lifestyle he or she enjoyed throughout his or her marriage. Spousal maintenance can also be ordered to help the recipient obtain the job training or further education that he or she needs to gain more financial independence. Let’s delve more closely into the four variations of spousal maintenance addressed in Illinois divorces. 

One: Temporary Spousal Maintenance

Temporary spousal maintenance is spousal maintenance that one spouse pays the other while the divorce in question is pending. Temporary maintenance is generally intended to help the recipient cover living expenses (in those situations in which the couple is living separately) prior to obtaining a division of marital assets. 

Two: Fixed-Term Spousal Maintenance

Fixed-term spousal maintenance is awarded for a set amount of time and is intended to allow the recipient to gain greater financial independence post-divorce. Some states call this rehabilitative maintenance or alimony. Fixed-term maintenance is often awarded in those situations in which the recipient put his or her own career on hold to stay home with the kids during the marriage (for example). 

Three: Reviewable Spousal Maintenance

Though similar to fixed-term spousal maintenance, reviewable spousal maintenance is not ordered for a specific amount of time. Instead, the order is subject to periodic review to help ensure that the recipient is making the good faith efforts necessary to become more financially independent. 

Four: Permanent Spousal Maintenance

Permanent spousal maintenance refers to financial support that the recipient receives indefinitely. Because there are, however, circumstances such as remarriage that can end spousal maintenance, it is sometimes more accurately called indefinite spousal maintenance. Permanent maintenance is reserved for those marriages that last at least 20 years, but another option for marriages of this duration is spousal maintenance that is ordered to last as long as the marriage itself did. 

It’s Time to Consult with an Experienced Joliet Spousal Maintenance Attorney

Spousal maintenance may play an important part in your divorce, but obtaining the maintenance to which you are entitled can be challenging. The accomplished Joliet spousal maintenance attorneys at Sabuco Beck P.C. recognize the serious nature of your situation and are committed to employing the full force of their legal insight and experience in pursuit of your case’s most beneficial resolution. Our dedicated legal team is standing by to help, so please don’t wait to contact us for more information today.