Alimony is a payment from the higher income spouse to the lower income spouse after divorce. The law regarding alimony has a number of quirks you may not be aware. Here is a list of 5 things it is likely you didn’t know about alimony:
1. If your ex-spouse has a sex change, you still have to pay alimony, at least in Florida. This is despite the fact that alimony could not be payable to a same sex partner.
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We recently looked at whether you should represent yourself in your divorce or hire a divorce lawyer. Not all lawyers are created equal, and if you have decided to hire a divorce lawyer, then the next step is to choose the right one. Your choice of a divorce lawyer is probably the most important step in your whole divorce, as it can make or break your case. Here are the important points to consider when hiring a divorce lawyer:
Specialization. The reality is that the law is extremely complicated and no lawyer, not even a so-called “general practitioner†can really master more than one or two main areas of law. Divorce law itself grows more and more complicated each year. You should choose a lawyer who practices primarily or exclusively in the area of divorce and family law.
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You have the right to represent yourself in your divorce case, which is known as acting pro se. There are a lot of good reasons to do this, but ultimately they boil down to two things: money and control. Lawyers are expensive, and once you hire one, the lawyer is in control of your case, not you. And there is always the possibility that getting lawyers involved in a divorce will escalate tensions.
At Divorce Zone, we are big fans of people handling their divorces as much as possible. The best way to do that is to read up as much as possible on the subject.
That being said, regardless of how simple your case is, if you and your spouse separate, you should initially consult with a divorce lawyer.  A divorce lawyer can help you apply all that you have learnt about divorce to the specifics of your case. He or she can also make sure that you have not overlooked something or misunderstood something.Â
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