Know that Alimony

Family advocate M.M Chopra says, "Alimony is the allowance that your spouse or former spouse pays you and your children for maintenance. This maintenance amount will be granted by the court upon separation or divorce."

Alimony is supposed to cover all you maintenance costs like food, shelter, clothing, children's school fees and any extra curricular activities that they have.

Remember, there are two types of alimony:

• Rehabilitative Alimony which is when maintenance is provided to you on a temporary basis. The court will anticipate the amount of time you need to be able to support yourself and have the alimony period set to that time.

For example, if the court believes (depending on how your case is presented in court) that you need a year to upgrade your work skills and get a job, you will be granted alimony for that year and no longer than that.

• Permanent Alimony is when your husband will have to pay you alimony for an indefinite period of time. However, despite the term, you will rarely be paid alimony for the rest of your life.

Your husband could ask the court to end the alimony period when you get financially independent (when you get a job or are starting your own business). However, the court will take how much you are earning into consideration and take a decision on terminating alimony accordingly.

Legal Hassles While Getting a Divorce tells you all about what you should expect.