What Is Temporary or Pendente Lite Child Support and Other Temporary Rulings In A Divorce?

You may have heard the term “pendente lite” child support or “pendente lite” spousal maintenance.  What do those terms mean?

Since a divorce can take months and sometimes years, before the Court makes a final ruling on your divorce, the Court may make other decisions or rulings while the divorce is pending.

The term “pendente lite” is a Latin term meaning “pending litigation” or in legal terms until the divorce is final, this is the Court’s decision or ruling. In laymen’s terms, a “pendente lite” ruling, means a temporary ruling that stands until the Court makes another decision. Once the Court issues its final divorce decree, in virtually all situations, a “pendente lite” decision becomes null and void.

The two most common uses of a “pendente lite” ruling are “pendente lite child support” and “pendente spousal maintenance” rulings.

A “pendente lite child support” decision is where the Court will make one parent pay child support to the other parent. When making a “pendente lite child support” decision, the Court typically has much less information than it would have if there was a trial. Once the Court issues a pendente lite child support order, it is binding.

Similarly, a “pendente lite spousal maintenance” order is where the Court will make one spouse make temporary spousal maintenance (alimony) payments to the other parent.

If you are thinking of getting a divorce, you need an attorney who can explain the divorce process to you in simple ordinary language. David Badanes, Esq. and the Badanes Law Office, P.C. have helped numerous clients in getting their divorce. You can contact David Badanes at (631) 430-4445, email at david@dbnylaw.com or visit our web site: www.dbnylaw.com.  The Badanes Law Office has offices in Northport, Suffolk County and Uniondale, Nassau County.

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