If there is one thing that is constant in life, it is that there will be change. For a very long time, the standard notion of family in the U.S. had the father as the breadwinner and mom the homemaker. That was the norm in Ohio, and just about everywhere else.
But experts would likely agree that the description of the traditional family has undergone a tectonic shift. In some, the old model still holds. More often, these days, both parents are working to try to support the family. And in some instances, there’s been a role reversal with mom the breadwinner and dad being the parent at home.
At the heart of all the various scenarios is the issue of money.
Parents want to provide the best life they can for their children and decisions are shaped by how they think they can best ensure that the children have the foundation from which they will develop proper values.
If a time comes when divorce seems to be the right choice for the parents, money often becomes a central issue in how matters proceed. If the family had a stay-at-home parent before the divorce, maintaining that scenario may be an objective in divorce. And if that is the case, there could be significant challenges trying to determine spousal support.
While Ohio has specific laws to frame child support matters, the question of alimony is determined using different criteria. Factors that are likely to be weighed include how long the couple was married, what the opportunities may be for a non-working spouse to find a self-sustaining job and what it may take to get them positioned for that. There are also tax implications for both the spouse paying and the one receiving support.
To be sure that you have accounted for all the possible variables and established a set of objectives that you feel can be achieved, it’s important to consult with an attorney who listens and can effectively identify your spousal support needs. We invite you to consider contacting us to learn more.