Sometimes in a marriage or after a divorce, it is possible to receive temporary support from your spouse. There may be an emergency which you cannot deal with unless you have help or other issues surrounding your situation. While not all people can receive temporary support from their spouses, many people can and don't know how to go about it. Below you will find an overview of temporary support and information to help you determine whether you are eligible or not.



What is Temporary Support?

Temporary support is when a judge orders one person to provide monetary assistance to their spouse or ex spouse for a certain period of time. The judge may provide a dollar amount each week or month that the person is supposed to supply their spouse with, or they may outline certain bills or payments that the person should take care of in order to help their spouse or ex spouse. There is no set amount that judges choose, and it all depends upon the situation and the amount of money that each person makes as well as what kinds of bills may be outstanding, etc.

Who Is Granted Temporary Support?

There is no certain type of person that is granted temporary support and men are granted temporary support the same as women are. There may be something with your situation that makes you eligible for support from your spouse. For instance, if you were a stay at home mother and you have no income, you may be granted support for a period of time until you can get a job and get back on your feet. Similarly, if a husband worked for years to help his wife earn a degree and now he is experiencing difficulty, the woman may be required to pay her ex husband temporary support. It is totally dependant upon the situation and the judge who reviews the case.

How to File for Temporary Support

Obviously, if you are in need of temporary support, hiring an attorney may be an issue for you. However, you can file the necessary paperwork yourself in order to obtain temporary support. Simply visit or call your family court clerk and ask for information about the documents needed to file for temporary support. They should provide you with the information you need in order to file the correct paperwork. There may be a small filing fee which usually doesn't cost that much. Then, during court, you will be given the opportunity to explain why you need temporary support. Write it down beforehand if it will help you outline your reasoning. Include times when you've helped your spouse or if he or she was part of the reason that you have no income.

Temporary support can really help you out when you need it and sometimes, it's only fair that your spouse or ex spouse helps. By following the tips above and taking advantage of the information, you can fully understand temporary support and how to receive it.