Alimony

Stamford Family Law Attorney

Representing Connecticut Clients in Divorce

In Connecticut, alimony is not automatically included as a term of a marital dissolution agreement. However, it is often part of divorces involving long-term marriages and when there are large gaps between the earning capacities of the spouses.

The divorce lawyers of Brandner & Ponzini in Stamford, Connecticut, offer experienced advice and representation. Experienced legal counsel is necessary when preparing for divorce and when modifications to alimony need to be made.

Why Alimony?

Divorce cases in Connecticut family courts have stated that alimony is sometimes called for to fulfill an "obligation of support that spouses assume toward each other by virtue of the marriage." (See Rubin v. Rubin, 204 Conn. 224, 234, 527 A.2d 1184, 1189 (1987). The longer a marriage has lasted, and the greater the disparity between the spouses' ability to earn a living, the more likely it is that spousal support will be an issue. A payee spouse's health is also a very important factor to consider.

Free initial consultation: Fill out our online form or call (203) 327-5609

Factors Considered by the Courts in Determining Spousal Maintenance Orders

Connecticut family law courts consider a number of factors when they decide whether alimony will be included in a divorce decree. These factors include the length of the marriage, the age and health of the spouses, the station and occupation of each spouse, the amount and sources of income of each spouse, the vocation skills and employability of each spouse, the sum total of the marital estate, the needs of each party, and, in the case of a care-giving mother or father, the desirability of employment for primary custodial parent.

Types and Duration of Alimony

Spousal support may include one or more of the following:

• Alimony pendente lite (for the support of a dependent spouse throughout divorce proceedings)
• Lump-sum alimony (onetime payment)
• Periodic alimony (a continuing duty to support)
• Temporary alimony
• Permanent alimony (lifetime alimony)
• Rehabilitative alimony

Our law firm performs a detailed computerized analysis to account for such complexities as the effects of child custody and child support on spousal support, and to calculate anticipated tax consequences of various spousal support scenarios. If you are seeking legal counsel on the issues of alimony or child support in Stamford, Connecticut, we encourage you to contact Brandner & Ponzini. We have been located in the Stamford area for over 20 years.