Is alimony considered a form of child support?

No, alimony and child support are two different types of financial support provided from one former spouse to another. In Tennessee, alimony is sometimes awarded to a former spouse in a divorce. Alimony is intended to help one party maintain the standard of living established during the marriage. Alimony can be awarded to provide financial support for a fixed period of time or on a continuing basis, depending upon the circumstances. It is usually based on the length of the marriage, the relative incomes of the parties, and the needs of the parties. Child support, on the other hand, is intended to provide financial support to the children of the marriage, and the funds are to be used for their care, maintenance, and support. It is usually based on an income shares model, where the parents’ incomes are compared to each other and then used to calculate how much each parent should pay in child support. In Tennessee, alimony and child support are handled by different courts and based on different factors. Consequently, alimony is not a form of child support. The court must consider other factors besides just the incomes of the parties when determining whether alimony should be awarded.

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Is alimony considered a form of child support?

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