Does Oklahoma law have other payment options than lump sum for alimony?

Oklahoma law lump sum alimony is one method of paying alimony or spousal support when a marriage ends. However, a lump sum payment of alimony is not the only option for alimony payments, nor is it necessarily the most commonly used option. 

In Oklahoma, alimony is awarded if the court believes that one spouse will need continuing support from the other spouse after the marriage ends in order to continue to maintain a standard of living reasonably comparable to that enjoyed while married. Alimony can be paid by either a husband or wife to the other spouse, depending in the income each makes, the earning potential of each spouse, and the fairness of awarding such alimony. 

Alimony is generally available in appropriate cases if the parties have been married for at least a few years. While the alimony may be awarded as one lump sum payment where the judge has one party pay the other a set amount, more commonly it is awarded in monthly payments that are to be paid.

• These monthly payments may be set to continue indefinitely, as in the case of permanent alimony which only stops upon death or remarriage of the person who is receiving the alimony. 
• They may also be set to continue for a limited duration of time, as in the case of temporary alimony which is awarded to allow one spouse time to re-establish as solid source of income once the marriage has ended. 

If you are in Oklahoma and you are going through a divorce, a lawyer can assist you in determining whether alimony is likely to be appropriate in your case and, if so, can help you to ensure it is awarded fairly in a payment arrangement that works for your family.