In Connecticut, there are three kinds of alimony. The first is pendent lite, which is temporary support awarded during the divorce process. The second type is permanent alimony, which is created at the end of the divorce proceedings. This may not actually be permanent but will continue for a specific duration of time or be paid in a lump sum. The third type is lifetime alimony, which is paid permanently and for life (this is rare).
When you’re going through divorce, one thing you need to determine is if you’ll be seeking alimony and, if so, which type you’d like to receive. Temporary alimony may be enough for some people, but many seek out permanent alimony to obtain a lump-sum alimony settlement or short period of spousal support after the divorce is finalized.
Will temporary alimony be enough?
Temporary alimony is paid only until your divorce is finalized. This may be enough for some people, such as those just trying to have additional support to rent a new apartment or to have extra support while switching over to a full-time schedule.
For many people, temporary alimony isn’t enough. They may seek out permanent alimony during the divorce and then obtain regular monthly payments or a lump-sum payout when the divorce is finalized.
Others may agree that the temporary boost in their income and financial support is enough that they don’t need to have additional alimony after the divorce is finalized.
How you can determine if you do or don’t need permanent alimony will depend on your situation. For example, imagine you lived in a marriage in which your spouse supported you financially. Upon divorce, you went out and got a job, but your budget is still wavering. If you are short $200 in your budget monthly and need that to survive, then your spouse may need to cover that or more.
On the other hand, if you earn the same amount as your spouse and have a reasonable divorce settlement, you may agree that you don’t need further support. Look at your budget and the division of your property to determine if you’d like to seek additional financial support in the future.