Within the state of South Carolina whenever a couple decides to get a divorce they will have to work together to come up with terms that they can agree on. The issues that need to be determined will be the division of community property and mutually assumed debt along with the problems that revolve around the children. These could include child custody along with a visitation schedule, and once custody has been decided the issue of child support will be settled based on the South Carolina child support guidelines. All of these issues are a given, but one term of the separation and divorce that may or may not be required will be that of alimony, which is alternately referred to as spousal maintenance or perhaps spousal support.

The laws that define spousal support in the state are available in Sections 20-3-120, 20-3-130, 20-3-140 of Chapter 3 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, and the first thing that is stated is the fact that there is no presupposition that one party should be instructed to support the other. Spousal support will be decided according to the merits of each individual case, and it could be either temporary or permanent. A temporary alimony judgment is usually seen as being rehabilitative, intended to tide one party over until he or she has gained the education or training essential to become financially self-supporting.

A divorcing couple may agree to a spousal support arrangement privately, but you will need to do so with the advocacy of a Charleston family lawyer to ensure that the door is open to future modifications should they become appropriate. The aspects that the court will take into account in the event that it has to decide a spousal support matter will probably include the length of the marriage; the physical and psychological well being of both people; their respective earning abilities; the living standard that existed during the marriage; and any impediments to employment which may be presented by child custodianship. 

For those who have questions or concerns about alimony and spousal maintenance, contact a Charleston SC military divorce attorney to arrange for a free consultation. The best divorce lawyer Charleston SC will provide you with the help you'll need with all aspects of a Charleston SC divorce.