| Alimony
Money for support and maintenance
to which one spouse is entitled from the other spouse after
a divorce or separation.
The court usually awards an amount based on need. Payments
often end if the receiving spouse remarries or if either spouse
dies.
Palimony
Support (money) that may be
awarded to John or Mary, even if unmarried, after they stop
living together. (They must have had an enforceable agreement
between them.) This new doctrine in the law exists only in
some states.
Child
Custody
Division of property
What property do John and Mary
get after a divorce? Property includes anything that can be
owned, such as a house, land, jewelry, money, stocks, patents,
and rights (e.g., a copyright on a book).
There are two major division patterns in the different states....
1. Common law (separate property): John and Mary may each
have their own (separate property) and may hold property together,
such as a car or a house (marital property).
In a divorce they (or the court)
decide how to divide all the different categories of property,
according to equitable distribution.
2. Community property: John
and Mary generally continue to hold what they had before the
marriage. However, all property earned during the marriage
is owned by both.
In a divorce this community
property is divided equally between them. The pre-marriage
property generally remains with John or Mary, as it was.
Divorce decree
The court order that ends the
marriage. It determines all the issues between John and Mary.
Interlocutory decree (Temporary or Interim Order): A temporary
decree, issued during the proceedings. There is generally
a waiting period before the decree can become final.
Final decree: Issued at the end of all proceedings. Any breach
of the decree is treated as contempt of court.
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