Full question:
My husband and I are getting divorced. My husband was the breadwinner, while I was the homemaker of our family. What factors does the court consider when determining spousal support in Iowa?
- Category: Divorce
- Subcategory: Spousal Support
- Date:
- State: Iowa
Answer:
In Iowa, when a couple divorces, the court may order one spouse to pay spousal support, also known as alimony, to help maintain financial stability. The court considers several factors as outlined in Section 598.21A of the Iowa Code:
- The length of the marriage.
- The age and physical and emotional health of both parties.
- The distribution of property as per section 598.21.
- The educational level of each spouse at the time of marriage and when the divorce action begins.
- The earning capacity of the spouse seeking support, including their education, training, work experience, and any time spent out of the job market due to child care responsibilities.
- The feasibility of the spouse seeking support becoming self-supporting at a standard of living similar to that enjoyed during the marriage, along with the time needed to achieve this.
- The tax consequences for each party.
- Any mutual agreements regarding financial or service contributions with the expectation of future compensation.
- The terms of any prenuptial agreement.
- Other relevant factors the court may identify in the specific case.
Orders related to spousal support must mention only the factors relevant to the case at hand but should include the names, birth dates, addresses, and counties of residence of both parties.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.