Can alimony be awarded if the couple was never married?

In Arkansas, alimony, legally known as spousal support, can only be awarded for couples who have been legally married. As such, for couples who have never been married, alimony is not available as a form of financial support in the event of a separation or divorce. However, there may be other legal avenues available to help provide financial support to couples who have never been married. One common example is the award of child support. For unmarried couples with children, a court may order the non-custodial parent to pay child support, which is designed to provide for the needs of the child financially. Furthermore, while alimony is not available as a form of financial support for unmarried couples, the court may be able to award some financial assets to the unmarried partner. This is commonly referred to as “equitable distribution” and is typically awarded to one partner when the other has significantly more income and assets than the other partner. If an unmarried couple is facing a separation, they should seek the counsel of an experienced family law attorney to learn about the legal options available to them. An attorney can help to determine which legal options best fit the situation and offer advice on how to proceed.

Related FAQs

Is alimony considered a form of child support?
Does alimony have to be agreed upon by both parties?
Is alimony taxable to the recipient in all states?
Can a court order a lump sum alimony payment?
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Is alimony paid in perpetuity or for a fixed period of time?
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Is alimony taken into consideration when calculating child support?

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