Many divorcing spouses have questions about alimony, or as it is called in Illinois, spousal maintenance. When is a spouse entitled to maintenance payments? Does the lower-earning spouse automatically get alimony in Illinois? How much are alimony payments and how long do they last?
In this blog, we will explore Illinois laws regarding spousal maintenance, when maintenance is awarded, and what you can do if you have further questions about spousal maintenance during your divorce.
Negotiated Agreements or Court Awards
There are two main ways that a spouse can receive alimony in an Illinois divorce. First, the spouses may be able to negotiate the terms of maintenance. For example, a spouse may agree to pay the lower-earning spouse a certain amount of money each month for the first year after the divorce. It is also possible that a divorcing couple has already made arrangements for spousal maintenance in a prenuptial agreement or postnuptial agreement.
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