Temporary Spousal Support During Alabama Divorce Proceedings

I received a call from a client today in Birmingham, Alabama.  I realized people contemplating divorce across Jefferson County, including Vestavia, Mountain Brook, Homewood, Leeds, Bessemer, Hoover, Pelham, Trussville, Gardendale, Fultondale, Fairfield, Moody, Pleasant Grove, Adamsville and Hueytown, as well as all across Alabama in places like Huntsville, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa and Mobile, are all concerned about Alabama divorce laws. 

One of the most frequent questions I encounter about Alabama divorce laws, in Birmingham and all across the State of Alabama, and especially from women,  is "How do I support myself during the divorce?"  The answer is simple.  I will file a motion for Pendente Lite.  That motion will provide temporary support from your husband while you are going through a divorce.  This kind of support is very similar to alimony.  It allows you to continue living as you currently are while the Alabama divorce proceedings are under way.  Once the divorce is finalized you will then be eligible for alimony.  Alimony is intended to keep you relatively in the same economic position you are in during the marriage.  In that way, alimony and temporary support are very similar.  Both provide you with a means to continue your way of life for a period of time.  Motions for Pendente Lite only covers support during the divorce proceedings itself.  So, your husband or wife can't just kick you out of the house, cut off your credit cards, take the car, etc.

The Alabama Code Section 30-2-50 allows for this kind of temporary support pending the divorce action.  It provides for the allowance for support during the pendency of action.

Divorce News

 Big divorce news in Atlanta.  Evangelist Juanita Bynum has had enough.  She filed papers seeking a divorce from her husband, Bishop Thomas W. Weeks III this past Monday, September 10, 2007.  According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, divorce papers accuse the Bishop of "beating, stomping and choking" his wife.  It is sad commentary on our times, that a supposed man of God, is being accused of domestic violence.  True or not, this kind of press is bad for the truly religious. If true, it is just another example of a con artist taking money in the guise of religion.  No true man of God(or any real-man for that matter) would ever put a hand to his wife.  That being said, it is not uncommon in divorce or child custody cases for one party, normally the wife, to accuse their spouse of some kind of domestic violence.  Accusing your spouse of domestic or child abuse can be an unscrupulous means to gain the advantage during divorce or custody proceedings. 

 

 

Preparing for an Alabama Divorce

I was researching women's divorce issues and ran across an article published by The Modern Women's Divorce Guide. They have an excellent list of what a woman should do when preparing for a divorce. Check it out here.