Spousal Support
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We help clients navigate spousal support (alimony) – financial support paid by one spouse to the other after separation or divorce. Whether you are seeking support or defending against an alimony claim, we ensure that the outcome is fair based on Tennessee law. Spousal support is not automatic; it depends on factors including marriage length, earning capacity, age, health, and contributions as a homemaker.
Types of Spousal Support in Tennessee:
Rehabilitative Alimony: Short-term support while a spouse gains job skills, education, or training to become self-sufficient.
Transitional Alimony: Fixed-term support to help a spouse adjust to post-divorce life (no rehabilitation required).
Alimony in Futuro: Long-term or indefinite support for spouses unable to achieve self-sufficiency due to age, disability, or other factors.
Alimony Solido: Lump sum or fixed-term support that does not end upon remarriage or death of the payor.
Key Factors Courts Consider:
Tennessee courts consider multiple factors including: (1) length of the marriage, (2) each spouse’s earning capacity and employability, (3) age and mental/physical health, (4) financial resources and separate property, (5) contributions as a homemaker, (6) marital misconduct (in fault-based divorces), (7) dissipation of assets, and (8) the ability of the payor spouse to provide support.
What We Handle at ZubaidaLaw:
Our legal advocates manage every aspect of spousal support: determining which type of alimony applies to your case, calculating reasonable support amounts based on income and expenses, negotiating settlement agreements, representing you in mediation or court hearings, modifying existing alimony orders due to changed circumstances, and enforcing unpaid support. We also notarize all financial affidavits and settlement documents.
Call us at 865-382-2900 for a confidential consultation to understand your spousal support rights and obligations.
Financial support paid by one spouse to the other after separation or divorce to help maintain a standard of living or become self-sufficient.
No. Alimony is not automatic. The court considers multiple factors and grants support only when fair and appropriate.
Rehabilitative, transitional, alimony in futuro (long-term), and alimony solido (lump sum).
Rehabilitative: Short-term (typically 2–5 years)
Transitional: Fixed term set by the court
In futuro: Indefinite, but may end upon remarriage or death
Solido: Lump sum – ends when paid
Yes – rehabilitative, transitional, and alimony in futuro typically end upon the recipient's remarriage. Alimony solido (lump sum) generally does not.
Yes, if there is a material change in circumstances (job loss, significant income change, disability, retirement, or cohabitation). Alimony solido generally cannot be modified.
Yes. In a fault-based divorce, marital misconduct (including adultery) may be considered in determining alimony, especially if it affected the marriage's financial circumstances.
Based on: length of marriage, each spouse's income and earning capacity, age and health, separate assets, homemaking contributions, and the payor's ability to pay without undue hardship.
Possibly. If there is a significant income disparity and the marriage was long-term, transitional or rehabilitative alimony may still be awarded even if you work.
Yes. We provide full notarization services for financial affidavits, spousal support agreements, marital settlement agreements, and all court filings.
