How Much Will You Pay in Support After A Divorce?

Are you getting divorced and concerned about how much you’ll pay in support or how much you will receive in support?

If you are in either of these situations, it’s essential to know about tax filing statuses. Below, we’ll look at why knowing your tax filing status (and your former spouse) is critical when dividing support after a divorce.

Navigating Life After Divorce

The experience of getting divorced is naturally highly stressful to the two individuals involved and their families. There are numerous situations to work out — from childcare and custody matters to homes, cars, businesses, etc.

One area that is often extra-difficult to navigate is spousal support.

Figuring Out Spousal Support Amounts After a Divorce

After a divorce — especially when two people were married for a considerable amount of time — one person has often become dependent on the income of the other (or on the combined income). A particular lifestyle and standard of living have been experienced that, without the former individual or combined financial support, the family members can no longer carry on. For this reason, spousal support is often awarded.

Many factors can influence support calculations after a divorce — from an individual’s income to their deductions. Even something as simple as a person’s tax filing status can become critical.

The 4 Major Tax Filing Statuses Relevant to Family Law

When it comes to paying or receiving support after a divorce, there are four prominent family law-related tax filing statuses that you should be aware of:

• Single
• Head of household
• Married, filing separately
• Married, filing jointly

Ultimately, your tax filing status matters and will impact your support obligation because it will impact the amount of income you have that will be taxed, resulting in an additional net disposable income (or income that you can spend on whatever you want).

So, for example, the status of “married, filing jointly” may result in you having a lower tax burden. But it could also potentially result in a higher support obligation. The keyword here is “potentially” because this isn’t always the case.

Additionally, because someone might pay a little more in support, this won’t necessarily mean they won’t have a more considerable disposable income.

Ultimately, numerous factors are at play, and every case is different. This is why having a seasoned attorney at your side is so important. Whenever you have a question on how best to handle your case or navigate the receipt or giving of post-divorce support, you’ll be able to call on your attorney, who can provide you with knowledgeable instruction and aid.

Contact Hartley Law, APLC Attorneys at Law Today

At Hartley Law, APLC Attorneys at Law, we have a team of family law attorneys dedicated to assisting clients with any and all family law needs — including divorce and spousal support after divorce. Give us a call to schedule a consultation.