Thursday, July 15, 2010

Domestic Violence and Alimony

Domestic violence can happen in any relationship, but often takes the strongest hold in relationships in which one spouse is dependent upon the other. Unequal financial earnings can create the potential for an abusive relationship because one spouse may use his or her financial advantage to hold power over the other person. In marriages involving domestic abuse, victimized spouses may feel that there is no escape because they have no way to support themselves. On the contrary, there are resources that can help an abused spouse escape the cycle of violence.

Filing for Divorce and Requesting Alimony

If you are a victim of domestic violence, consider talking with an experienced divorce lawyer about how you can safely file for divorce. During your divorce proceedings, you can make a case to have your spouse issue an alimony settlement. Alimony is payment from one spouse to another that can be court-ordered in a divorce. Typically, alimony is issued when a divorce would leave one spouse at a major financial disadvantage.

How Alimony Can Help You

While domestic abuse can sometimes seem inescapable, an experienced lawyer can help you recover resources during your divorce to restart your life. Alimony can be used to help an abused spouse escape an unhealthy or dangerous situation, support herself or himself, find a job, or return to school for further education. These court-ordered payments could be the answer to transitioning away from an abusive, dependent relationship to a self-sufficient life free from the threat of violence.

For More Information

Abusive relationships are a tragedy, but they do not have to continue. Victims of domestic violence may be able to seek help through the divorce process to transition to a better, healthier life.

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