Can a court award retroactive alimony payments?

Yes, a court in California can award retroactive alimony payments. Retroactive alimony is money paid for support dating back before the court order was issued. A court will usually only order retroactive alimony if one of the spouses has financially relied on the other. In California, the court may consider retroactive alimony if the recipient did not have the financial resources to ask the court for financial assistance when they were first married or if the other spouse hid assets during the divorce process. The court may also consider if the recipient lost ground financially during the divorce proceedings and needs help to catch up. A court may also award retroactive alimony if the recipient is no longer able to support themselves. For example, if they have a serious medical condition that requires them to stay out of work and the other spouse is able to bear the financial burden, the court may award retroactive alimony payments to compensate for the lost wages. The court will want to make sure that the money is used for the benefit of the person receiving the alimony payments and not for any other purpose. California also has rules about how long a court can order retroactive alimony payments so it is important to be aware of these rules if you are thinking about filing for retroactive alimony.

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Can a court award retroactive alimony payments?

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