Spousal Support Guidelines in Tennessee

Alimony is a set of periodic payments from one spouse to another. Alimony is not automatic in Tennessee. One spouse has to request it, demonstrate they need this financial support, and show the other spouse can provide it. Alimony helps maintain a spouse’s lifestyle after a divorce and prevents them from having to seek public assistance.

Types of Spousal Support in Tennessee

Tennessee recognizes three types of alimony:

  • Periodic alimony – Periodic alimony is what many people think of as alimony. It is long-term support that helps maintain a spouse’s lifestyle. This alimony may be ordered indefinitely.
  • Transitional alimony – Transitional alimony is ordered for a short period of time, allowing a spouse to adjust between their married and divorced life.
  • Rehabilitative alimony – Rehabilitative alimony is alimony awarded for a specific amount of time, such as long enough for a dependent spouse to obtain a college degree to help them become self-sufficient.

Tennessee Spousal Support Guidelines

Tennessee does not have spousal support guidelines or a formula to determine the type, length, or amount of alimony. Instead, Tennessee courts consider various factors to decide whether to award alimony, how much alimony to award, and how long to award it. According to experienced alimony attorneys in Nashville, courts make decisions on a case-by-case outcome, beginning by assessing the dependent spouse’s needs and the ability of the other spouse to pay support.

Factors the Court Considers When Deciding on Alimony

Tennessee courts consider various factors when making alimony decisions, including:

  • The standard of living established during the marriage
  • Each spouse’s earning capacity, liabilities, needs, financial resources, and sources of income
  • Each spouse’s education and training, ability and opportunity to secure education and training, and the need to secure further education and training to improve their earning capacity to a reasonable level
  • The length of the marriage
  • Each spouse’s age and health
  • Whether either spouse has a disability
  • Child custody arrangements and how they impact the undesirability to work outside the home
  • Marital property division
  • The separate property of each spouse
  • The extent to which each spouse has contributed to the marriage, including as a homemaker or as contributions by a spouse to the education, training, or increased earning power of the other spouse

Courts can also consider the fault of the parties in their discretion when they feel it is appropriate to do so, tax consequences to each party, and other factors it determines relevant.

An experienced spousal support lawyer in Nashville can evaluate your case and argue the factors that weigh in favor of your desired outcome.

Protect Your Rights and Future by Contacting an Experienced Spousal Support Lawyer

Spousal support can help provide much-needed support after a divorce. However, it’s not automatic, and courts have a lot of discretion in ordering it and determining the amount and duration. You need an experienced spousal support lawyer on your side when these matters are at hand.

The Nashville family law attorneys at Burdine Law Firm, PLLC can help you with all aspects of spousal support cases. Contact us today to schedule a confidential, no-obligation consultation.