Alimony is the amount that is agreed upon by the divorcing couple in mediation or by the judge in court. This is the amount that is given to one spouse by the other based on their financial need for it. When it comes to alimony determination, it can be both confusing and overwhelming to deal with in a divorce case. To better understand how it works, you will want to know the answers to the top four questions that are asked about it:

1. Do You Have to be Married for a Certain Amount of Time: Many people believe that you have to be married for a certain amount of time before you receive alimony. However, this is not the case. No matter what the length, you are eligible for alimony. The only difference is that the longer you are married, the more alimony you typically receive compared to shorter marriages. 
2. How Much Is Usually Received: Of course, you are going to be anxious about how much you are eligible to receive. After all, once you know, you can make better plans financially after your divorce is settled. However, it varies so significantly from divorce to divorce that it's impossible to determine how much you will receive, especially if you are taking your divorce to court where the judge will be the ultimate decision maker on how much alimony is given. 
3. How Long Will You Receive Alimony: The length of time in which the alimony is paid to you all depends on the total amount that is agreed upon and how desperately the money is needed. For example, an unemployed spouse will typically receive alimony for a longer period of time than a spouse who has a stable income. There is a common misconception that you receive one year of alimony for every three years of marriage. However, this is not actually the case. 
4. Do You Need an Alimony Attorney: You may consider an alimony attorney if you want to settle on an amount in mediation. This is the best way to control the amount instead of leaving it all in the hands of the judge. An alimony attorney will evaluate your financial needs in order to determine a fair amount. You can use this number to negotiate with your spouse in order to settle on a fair arrangement in mediation instead of taking your case to court. 

When you know the answers to these top four questions, you can better understand how alimony will work in your situation.

For more information, talk to a professional like Hackworth Law.