will i have to seek an employment if i have always been a homemaker?

WILL I HAVE TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT IF I

HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A HOMEMAKER?

“A divorce can change your life in many important ways.

Men or women who have been working as a homemaker and who have not recently been employed for pay may face

the biggest change to their lives after a marriage ends.”

http://www.singerpistiner.com/






Will I Have to Seek Employment if I Have Always Been a Homemaker? www.singerpistiner.com 2

A divorce can change your life in many

important ways. Men or women who

have been working as a homemaker

and who have not recently been

employed for pay may face the biggest

change to their lives after a marriage

ends. If you are no longer able to

count on your spouse to pay the family

bills, you may find yourself needing to

find a job of your own.

Whether or not you will have to seek

employment if you have always been a

homemaker is going to depend upon

many different factors. If continuing to

remain at home is important to you,

you must be proactive in protecting your rights. A Scottsdale divorce and family

law attorney can provide you with assistance in trying to negotiate or litigate for a

divorce settlement that will allow you to continue to work in your home instead of

in the public or private sector.

DO YOU NEED TO BECOME EMPLOYED AFTER DIVORCE?

If you receive a large enough divorce settlement or if your alimony/spousal

support covers all of your necessary expenses, you will not need to become

employed after divorce. Whether or not this will occur in your situation is going to

depend upon your shared assets, your spouse’s income, whether you have a


prenuptial agreement, whether you can agree on a divorce settlement, and what

the judge decides in your case.

Arizona is a community property state, so you are entitled to half of all assets

acquired during the marriage even if your spouse was the only one working and

paying for them. If you have substantial savings, a paid-off home, and other

marital assets, the money you receive from your divorce settlement may be

enough for you to live on without getting a job. Depending upon the length of

your marriage, you are also likely going to be entitled to receive a portion of your

spouse’s pension, retirement savings, and Social Security benefits to support you

into your old age.


The alimony or spousal support that you receive may also be enough to support

you so you do not have to return to work. This may be the case if you and your

spouse negotiated a prenuptial agreement guaranteeing you a certain amount of

money to live on after a marriage has ended.

If your spouse makes a substantial amount of money, you are also likely to be

awarded large alimony payments after your marriage ends- especially if your

marriage was a long one, if you contributed to your spouse’s career, if you have

a disability that affects your work abilities, or if there is a significant discrepancy

between your earning potential and what your spouse makes.

You and your spouse

can agree on a

divorce settlement

and the issue of

alimony. If you come

to a consensus that

you should be able to

remain at home and

that your spouse will

support you while you

do so, you will not have to work after your divorce.

If you and your spouse are not able to agree, the judge will address the issue of

spousal support and division of assets. The judge will apply Arizona laws to

make decisions on these issues. Under the law, you may be required to become

self-supporting if it is possible for you to do so. However, a judge’s decision on


whether you need to return to work is going to be based on many different things

including how long you have been out of the workforce, how difficult it may be for

you to find a job, and whether you are caring for any family members with special

needs.

WHEN DO YOU NEED TO RETURN TO WORK AFTER A

DIVORCE?

In many cases, your spouse is not going to have enough money to support two

households after a divorce. If your marriage was a short one and/or if you can

become self-supporting with a little time or training, you are likely going to have

to return to work. While your spouse can always agree to keep paying your bills,

a judge is not

necessarily going

to order your ex to

continue to allow

you to remain at

home.

If you are

concerned about

whether you will

need to return to

work after your

divorce, you should speak with an experienced Scottsdale divorce lawyer about

what your options are. Your attorney can help you to determine the likelihood that

you will be able to continue to work as a homemaker and your attorney will help

you to negotiate a settlement or convince the judge to allow you to stay home.


About Singer Pistiner, P.C.

In the midst of a family crisis, you may feel like you have nowhere to turn. But there is a solution. At Singer Pistiner, P.C., we will help you to find it. As a small firm, we are able to respond quickly to your needs and concerns. The efficiencies of being a small firm also enable us to provide high-quality legal services at affordable rates.

At Singer Pistiner, P.C., in Phoenix, Arizona, we know that divorce is an emotionally and financially taxing experience. That’s why we provide you with a simple, quick and personalized approach to family law services where you will deal with one attorney who will handle your case from start to finish.

Your Personal Attorneys

Throughout the legal process, our lawyers will keep you informed of important developments. We will return your phone calls, answer your questions and address any additional issues that may arise in the course of your case.

We will devote all of the time and effort needed to achieve the best possible outcome. Our law firm can take your case to family court, which is a part of the Superior Court of Arizona, or handle it through another avenue of resolution, such as mediation. In addition to divorce, our lawyers handle paternity, prenuptial agreements,grandparents’ rights, orders of protection, child relocation, and modification and enforcement issues.

In any family law case, your best interests are our overriding concern. Our goal is to find the right solution for you — in an efficient, timely and affordable manner.

OUR FAMILY LAW ATTORNEYS PROUDLY SERVE PHOENIX, GLENDALE, SURPRISE, SCOTTSDALE, TEMPE, CHANDLER AND MESA

If you’d like to know more about how our Phoenix family law firm handles divorce and other family issues, please feel free to call 602-264-0110 or send us an e-mail to schedule a free initial consultation.

Singer Pistiner, P.C. 15849 N. 71st St., Suite 100

Scottsdale AZ 85254 Phone: 602-264-0110

Fax: 602-264-0440 Website: www.singerpistiner.com


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