Practice Areas
- Property Division
- Divorce
- Child Support
- Family Law
- Domestic Violence/Domestic Relations
- Modifications & Enforcement
- Maintenance/Alimony
- Collaborative Law
- Child Custody & Visitation
FAQs
Contact Us
Bennett Law Firm, LLC
1200 Harger Road
Oak Brook, Illinois 60523Phone: (630) 573-8800
Fax: (630) 573-9810We are available during the day, M-F, and have limited availability on weekday evenings and Saturdays by appointment.
Please Note
Effective September 1st, 2010,
we are changing our location to:
2015 Spring Road
Oak Brook, Illinois 50623
DuPage County Lawyers Handling Alimony Issues
Here in Illinois, the correct legal term for what was once called alimony is now spousal maintenance.
Many Factors Enter Into Alimony/Maintenance Orders
In many divorces involving two working or otherwise self-sufficient people, no maintenance is awarded in the judgment of dissolution. Situations where the court does consider awarding maintenance include:
- Marriages in which one spouse has stayed home to focus on raising small children, while the other spouse continued in a high paying career
- Circumstances such as age or health problems in which one spouse is prevented from being or becoming self-supportive
- A disparity in the parties income.
Even for a stay-at-home parent, the court will often grant maintenance only for a period of time and then require a review or alternatively terminate spousal support depending on twelve (12) factors set forth in the state statute. This reflects an intention to give this party time to advance his or her education, get specific job training, find work or become reacclimated in the workforce — in order to become economically independent.
Protecting Your Financial Interests Often Requires a Capable Lawyer
Whether spousal maintenance/alimony is awarded at all, as well as the amount of these payments, is often the subject of negotiation or litigation. Our attorneys' skill and experience are a significant advantage in such disputes.
Unlike child support, there are no specific statutory or numerical guidelines for spousal maintenance. In addition, spousal maintenance/alimony is usually includable in the gross income of the payee. Consequently, ensuring your spouse's current assets and earning potential are accurately represented to the court is essential. As a legal team skilled in establishing all financial facts through forensic accounting and other tools, we offer the resources you need to accomplish this objective.
Disputes over spousal maintenance are an area where the skill and experience of your divorce attorney can make a real difference to your financial future. Whether you believe you should receive maintenance or do not believe your divorcing spouse requires the money being sought, we will build the best case possible for you based on the facts of your case.
We at Bennett Law Firm, LLC can help protect you against an unjust spousal maintenance order you will later regret. Please contact us to discuss all aspects of your divorce case, including the issue of spousal maintenance.