| Alimony: Rehabilitative Spousal Support |
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| Alimony awards, also called "spousal support," are usually granted at the court's discretion upon a determination, which takes into account certain factors, that spousal maintenance is necessary. Some of the factors considered when determining alimony payments include the education of the spouses, their respective work experiences, income histories, ages, health, the length of the marriage, and the time either spouse has spent out of the work force. Alimony may be either temporary (often called "rehabilitative alimony") or permanent. The court grants rehabilitative spousal support when one spouse has been disadvantaged in order to equalize the burden of the divorce. More... |
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| Impotence as Grounds for Annulment of Marriage |
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| In some states, impotency can be grounds for annulment. If a spouse is physically impotent and the other spouse was unaware of the impotency prior to the marriage, the marriage can be voidable in some states. If a marriage was never consummated, this can constitute viable grounds for annulment. Impotency occurring after marriage is generally not in itself ground for annulment. More... |
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| Fault-based Divorce: Adultery |
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| There can be various grounds for seeking a divorce; adultery is stated as a reason for divorce in the laws of the majority of states that allow fault-based divorces. Adultery is defined as voluntary, consensual sexual intercourse or sexual activity by a married person with someone other than their legal spouse. While intercourse is usually required, something less may amount to adultery under the divorce laws in some states. More... |
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| Financial Discovery Issues in Divorce Cases |
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| In divorce, financial discovery concentrates on the economic aspects of the marriage and the spouses' financial circumstances. Detailed financial discovery allows both spouses to obtain the information needed to present a complete and accurate representation of the family's assets and liabilities. With that information, the divorce court can fashion a fair marital property division and an appropriate support order. More... |
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| Grounds for Annulment: Underage |
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| In the United States, all but one state require that a person must attain the age of 18 years in order to marry without parental permission. Nebraska sets that age at 19. Some states allow marriage below the minimum age, with court approval, in cases of pregnancy or the birth of an illegitimate child. Although a marriage of underage parties might be void, it can be validated by parental consent in some states. More... |
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