Alimony and Lawsuits: Your Questions Answered

Questioner

As of 15-01-2013 the court has made a ruling stating that I, a child and 18 years old, am entitled to alimony from my father. Now everyone says something different about when this starts. Does the alimony start on the date of the ruling or the date of signing?

Lawyer

That depends on what the court said about the effective date. So look at the judge's ruling or ask your lawyer. You talk about signing, but what was signed? An agreement? In that case, I would argue that the date of the agreement is valid as the effective date, if that date is before the date of the ruling.

Lawyer

Dear questioner, The effective date is in the order. In it, in one of the last sentences, it says: 'determines that the father with effect from...' (or in similar words). If that is not there, then there is an error in the order. The effective date must be there. If that error is indeed there, the lawyer who handled the case (but also another lawyer) can try to correct it. Often it starts at the moment the petition is filed, or the date the decision is given. These are the two most common starting dates. But it must be stated in the decision. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.