Changes in Illinois Alimony Law.

August 15, 2014 was an important day in the history of Illinois spousal support law. On that day, Governor Quinn signed into law new spousal maintenance rules that dramatically change how maintenance (formerly known as alimony) is determined in the Land of Lincoln.

The new law changes the determination of maintenance and becomes more or less a mathematical formula. A formulaic approach has been used for years in determining child support, but not for determining maintenance.  You may have a myriad of questions concerning the relatively new law, both positive and negative.

Up until the beginning of 2015, a judge hearing a divorce case has determined whether a spouse is entitled to maintenance based on the statutory factors detailed in Section 504(a) of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.  Those factors include both incomes; the property that both parties have in their possession; the needs of both parties; the ability of both parties to earn a living, both now and in the future; the length of the union; the current health of both parties; and the standard of living established during the marriage.

As mentioned above, you may have numerous questions about how this law affects your dissolution of marriage.  The right person to answer those questions is Lisle, Illinois attorney Vincent Ruggiero.  From his office he serves family law clients in Kane, DuPage, Will, and Cook Counties.  Please call his office today to make an appointment at (630) 654-0044.