How Is Alimony Calculated in Michigan?

The average cost of divorce is nearly $13,000. For most people, that’s a staggering amount. If your divorce has put you in a financial bind, you may wonder how you will make ends meet. Fortunately, in Michigan, either spouse can submit a request for alimony—as long as the situation meets these requirements:

1. The requesting spouse has a legitimate financial need
2. The other spouse can afford to make payments

If you believe you are entitled to alimony, the natural next question is, “How much money can I plan on?”

When it comes to alimony in Michigan, there’s a lot to know. In this guide, we’ll cover some of the basics.

The Four Types of Spousal Support

In Michigan, there are four types of spousal support. These include:

1. Lump-sum or gross alimony
2. Permanent alimony
3. Periodic alimony
4. Temporary alimony

Some of these categories are self-explanatory, while others can be more difficult to understand. Lump-sum payments are rare but occur when the paying spouse can afford to provide the entire amount at once.

Permanent payments are also rare. They usually occur when the marriage lasted for a great length of time. In these cases, the requesting spouse is usually unable to become financially independent because of age or health.

Periodic payments give the requesting spouse time to become independent. Temporary payments support the requesting spouse throughout the divorce proceedings.

How the Final Amount Is Calculated

Once you know what type of alimony you can owe or be awarded, you’ll have a better idea of how many payments to expect. But how are payments calculated?

Unfortunately, in Michigan, there is no strict formula from which you can receive a concrete answer. Instead, the court will weigh several factors before determining the final amount. The factors that come into play include:

• The age of each spouse
• The earning capacity of each spouse
• The health of each spouse
• How each spouse contributed to the marriage
• How the marital property was divided

There are software programs and calculators that can give you a general idea of what to expect. But at the end of the day, the final amount is up to the discretion of the court.

How a Lawyer Can Help

Divorce and alimony law can be quite complex, even after the arrangement is finalized. That’s why you need an attorney who is experienced in family law.

The Gucciardo Family Law Firm can help you navigate the peaks and valleys of divorce. Call us anytime you need help in these areas:

• Modifying or terminating an alimony agreement
• Understanding how tax laws and alimony overlap
• Obtaining legal support through court proceedings

Our legal team is knowledgeable, experienced, and compassionate. We know that divorce is difficult for everyone involved and we want to make the process as easy as possible. Visit our contact page or give us a call today to schedule your free 30-minute consultation.