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Spousal Support Attorney
Issues in Determining a Lump Sum Spousal Support Buy-Out
Determining an exact figure for a fair spousal support buy-out number is difficult because there are so many factors. To give you an idea of what needs to be considered, here is a list of some of the variables that go into a buy-out calculation:
- Amount of spousal support which would be paid is not absolutely clear unless there’s already a court order;
- Chances that spousal support would be modified in the future:
- Increase;
- Decrease;
- Anticipated retirement.
- Length of time spousal support would be paid;
- Early termination: death of either party, remarriage of recipient;
- Risk that spousal support is not paid:
- Disability or decrease in income for person paying support;
- Person paying support fails to pay or disappears.
- Earning capacity;
- Duty to be self-supporting;
- Tax ramifications: ordinarily spousal support is tax deductible by the person paying and included in the income of the recipient, but lump sums are not taxed;
- Time value of money:
- Advantage to having the money in one lump sum;
- Anticipated rate of return if lump sum was invested.
Non-Monetary Factors:
- Peace of mind and closure;
- No need to modify spousal support later;
- Privacy with regard to your financial situation in the future;
- Each party has incentive to prosper financially without penalty;
- Easier to co-pa
- rent when you’re not worried about each other’s earning capacity;
- Decreased anxiety associated with ongoing litigation.
Don’t forget to add: the cost of litigation in order to find out what the spousal support order will be if you cannot settle on the terms.
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