The alimony laws governing spousal support in Virginia are different from what is obtainable in other states. Read further to grasp the peculiarity of the VA alimony law.
All 50 states in America are alimony states, meaning states that have enacted laws permitting a spouse who cannot work full time or with a lower income to request payments from the other spouse to support themselves after a divorce.
What is Alimony?
Also referred to as “spousal support” or “spousal maintenance” in The Old Dominion, alimony is the series of payments made by one spouse (the payor spouse) to another (the supported or payee spouse) after the divorce.
Before the alimony payments commence, there has to be a written order or agreement which requires the payor to support the payee with a stipulated amount of money.
This agreement eliminates any disputes in the future about why the payment was made or when it’s not made.
Type of Alimony Laws Practiced in VA
Types of alimony in Virginia
In the state of Virginia, there are mainly two types of alimony that a judge can award, depending on the circumstances:
Temporary Spousal Support in Virginia
Alimony during litigation and rehabilitative alimony are the two types of temporary alimony. It is granted for a set period of time This could happen during a divorce or during a separation. A dependent spouse is given a temporary maintenance allowance to help them maintain themselves while they learn or study to be able to support themselves economically in the long term.
Alimony During Litigation in VA
Before the divorce petition is even heard, the judge may grant support the dependent spouse’s living expenses. This sum may be awarded for a limited time or until the divorce is finalized. A temporary alimony order does not guarantee that the spouse will get permanent alimony. Its also known as pendente lite.
Rehabilitative Alimony in VA
Rehabilitative alimony is meant to be a temporary solution to help a spouse bounce back on his or her footing. Alimony is paid to allow the other spouse to return to school or learn new skills that will make them more competent in the employment market. A spouse who has decided to be a homemaker and raise kids has typically been unable to learn the skills required for productive and successful job.
Permanent Spousal Support in Virginia
refers to assistance for an extended amount of time that ends with either side’s death or the dependant spouse’s remarriage. There are also payment categories that indicate whether or not the amounts of alimony can be changed after the court order has been issued.
Technical Alimony in VA
This indicates that if the agreement stipulates that payments are contingent on particular conditions, and the conditions warrant it, the amount of payments can be changed after the divorce. Either spouse might ask the court for a payment increase or decrease.
Fixed Alimony in VA
The court cannot amend fixed alimony irrespective of a change in circumstances. The court will interpret the settlement between the divorcing spouses as being adjustable at a future date unless it expressly states that alimony is to be set.
Who Pays Alimony in Virginia?
In Virginia alimony law, the spouse that makes most of the money will share that income with the other spouse. The idea behind who pays for alimony is to considerably level up the living standard of the dependent spouse to what it was while the marriage was on.
Regarding the sex that pays, alimony in The Old Dominion is gender-neutral, meaning either spouse can request support from the other. As long as the alimony can be provided to the requesting spouse, then it will most likely be granted.
So a husband can receive alimony from a wife in Virginia if the above conditions are met.
How Long Does Spousal Support Last in VA?
The judge will decide how long the alimony payment should last in Virginia
The duration to pay alimony in Virginia can differ depending on the individual judge and circumstances. However, you should expect to pay spousal support for a duration of 80-70% of the length of the marriage lasted. So assuming you were married for 10 years, the spousal support duration will most likely be between 6 to 7 years.
As provided by the alimony laws of VA, rehabilitative and permanent support stops if either spouse dies or the supported spouse remarries.
How to Collect Spousal Support Arrears in Virginia
When it comes to collecting spousal support in Virginia, you have a few choices if your ex-spouse has failed to make alimony payments as ordered by the court. Debts for spousal support are frequently given priority among debtors under US law.
Factors That Influence Alimony in Virginia
In Virginia, there is no such thing as a right or claim to spousal support. The amount of alimony paid to a spouse is established on a case-by-case basis.
The average amount payable as spousal support in Virginia after divorce is determined by various factors. But the major factor you have to understand is “the standard of living of the marriage.”
To determine the final amounts for rehabilitative and permanent support in VA, the courts in VA takes into consideration the income of the spouses, plus other factors like:
- earning capacity of each spouse.
- the ability of the paying spouse to pay, considering assets, the standard of living, earning capacity, as well as earned and unearned income.
- the extent of contribution the supported spouse gave to the other’s educational pursuit or professional license during the marriage
- how long the marriage lasted
- the needs of each spouse
- the assets and debts of each spouse including separate property
- each party’s tax consequences
- the ability of the supported spouse to gain employment without interfering with their children’s care
- each spouse’s health and age
- each party’s balance of hardships
- whether there is a documented history of domestic violence against the children or either party
- will the dependent spouse be self-supporting within a reasonable period
- any criminal conviction of an abusive spouse
- any other factors which the court wishes to consider
This is the main measure the court uses to determine the amount to be paid in The Old Dominion. The principle behind the standard of living of the marriage is that after the marriage breakup, both spouses should continue living within the same standard they lived while the marriage lasted.
How Alimony is Calculated in VA
How Alimony is Calculated in Virginia
The amount to be paid as spousal support in Virginia is calculated after considering the above-stated factors. Whichever option is adopted it is reflected in the Alimony Calculator
But to be explicit about how to calculate spousal support in VA, you may need to consult your spousal support attorney.
>>> Virginia Spousal Support Calculator
Importance of Using a Skilled Virginia Spousal Support Attorney
If you’re getting a divorce in Virginia and need to negotiate or re-negotiate spousal support, you’ve definitely got a lot of questions and want to seek competent legal guidance. Though state Supreme Courts have supported lifetime spousal support, your circumstances may or may not fulfill the requirements. VA courts may judge your case differently based on the merits of you and your previous spouse. There are so many variables to consider.
If you want to get spousal support for the rest of your life or if you want to fight against it in Virginia, an expert divorce lawyer can help. Depending on the objective and the desire of the adversary attorney to bargain in good faith, you’ll need attorneys that are
both empathetic and strong.
For the convenience of our members, we have an up-to-date directory of VA divorce and spousal support attorneys who can help with a variety of issues. For legal advice and
representation on spousal support that is powerful and well-informed.
Click Here to Get our Free Iowa Alimony recommendation.
FAQ About Virginia Alimony Laws
Here are Frequently Asked Questions about spousal support laws in VA:
Can a Husband get Alimony in VA?
Yes. In Virginia, alimony payment is gender-neutral, meaning the sex that pays or receives is not the main determinant, but other factors as stated above. For details click here.
Who Qualifies for Alimony in Virginia?
Just as either spouse can pay or receive, the party that qualifies to receive spousal support is the dependent party while the marriage lasted. This means that in VA, the spouse that had lesser or no income when the marriage was on is also the one qualified to receive alimony. Click here for details
How Long do you have to be Married to get Alimony in VA?
To understand how long alimony lasts in Virginia, you have to take into consideration how long the marriage lasted.
However, bear in mind that there is no limit to the duration you can pay or receive alimony for marriages that lasted 10-20 years or more. Any marriage that lasted below 20 years will not pay nor receive alimony that exceeds 50% of the duration of the marriage.
Is Alimony Tax Deductible in Virginia?
Following the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which altered the link between alimony and taxes dramatically in Virginia and all over the US, alimony payments are no longer tax deductible for the payer and are no longer recognized as income for the recipient spouse as of January 1, 2019.
Is Alimony Mandatory in The Old Dominion?
Alimony is mandatory in Virginia as long as one of the spouses earns or owns assets that can be relied upon to support the other spouse after the marriage breaks down.
Can Alimony be increased in Virginia?
Alimony amount or duration can be increased or decreased due to changes in the financial circumstances of the parties in different ways, including:
- an increase or decrease in the income of the alimony recipient
- if it’s determined that the original alimony awarded is inadequate
- loss to the alimony recipient’s financial assets
- an increase in the justified expenses of the alimony recipient
- when the financial condition of the receiving spouse fails to improve as originally expected
Can you go to Jail for Not Paying Spousal Support in VA?
Technically, you will not be jailed for not paying alimony in Virginia. While there are varying consequences for not paying alimony, you can still end up in jail as a result. Here is how.
If it’s a Virginia court-ordered spousal support that you refuse to pay, it means you are in violation of a court order meaning you can be prosecuted for being in contempt of court if contempt proceedings are brought up against you. This could attract a jail term in VA}.
How to Modify Spousal Support in Virginia
How to Avoid spousal support in Virginia
When necessary, Virginia law allows for a spousal support modification. When it comes to alimony, courts in VA usually try to do their best to create judgments that are fair and effective in the long run. Nevertheless, conditions change over time, and these changes may compel a revision or modification of the initial order.
When filing for a spousal support modification in Virginia, keep in mind that the courts will only entertain the motion if there has been a significant and long-term change in circumstances. A brief problem is unlikely to be significant enough to warrant a revision in the initial alimony ruling. Likewise, dissatisfaction with the support order is not a valid reason for a revision in VA.
The following are some of the most common reasons for requesting an alimony modification in Virginia:
- Retirement
- Remarriage
- Relocation
- Changes in income or employment
- Birth of a new child
- Health changes, including disability
- A new dependent
How to Avoid or End Spousal Support in VA
In The Old Dominion, the spouse paying the alimony can successfully avoid or stop the alimony payment if he/she is able to prove any or all of the following points:
- that the dependent spouse is guilty of infidelity
- the spouse proves that he has no source of income
- the spouse remarries and has to take care of the new spouse however, he/she will continue paying the child support for children if any
- if the spouse is disabled and unable to earn a living
Alimony Laws in all 50 States
A Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas
C California | Colorado | Connecticut
D-H Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii
I Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa
K-L Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana
M Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana
N Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota
O Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon
P-S Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota
T-U Tennessee | Texas | Utah
V-W Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming
