How much alimony is paid? As an answer to this question, currently, the alimony payment for children from the age of 15 will be levied equally on both parents according to their income, unless the mother is not wealthy then the father will bear the full payment. Alimony is a payment determined in the divorce settlement and which the father is obligated to pay for his children until they reach the age of 18 or until the end of high school, whichever is later. Every father, without exception, is obligated to pay alimony, regardless of his financial situation, level of earnings, or health status. To understand how much child support is paid, one must first understand the origin of the need to pay child support.
How Much Alimony is Paid? The Factors Affecting Child Support Obligations
As is well known, the requirement to pay alimony rests with the father. This decision comes not from Israeli law but from Jewish law. Under Jewish law, in the event of a divorce, the father is obliged to support his children, even if it means that he will not be able to support himself. Today, the amount of alimony is determined according to each child individually and refers mainly to the age financial situation, and different abilities of both parents.
Paying child support is perhaps the most problematic issue in the area of divorce. These are very significant amounts of money, intended to maintain two future homes, instead of maintaining only one home in the past.
It is important for both parties to know that alimony payment is not an absolute issue, and although there are statutory restrictions, an agreement can be reached between the two spouses, on equal alimony payment that will not cause either party to kneel under the burden. In the “ideal” situation, the economic harm to both spouses is the same and as fair as possible.
How much does alimony pay for adult children?
Payment of child support from the age of 15 to the age of 18 is considered “the force of charity” alimony. These payments are imposed equally on both parents in proportion to their income, provided the mother is wealthy enough. If not, alimony payments are the sole responsibility of the father. Payment is given until the day the child graduates from high school or alternatively, until they reach the age of 18 (whichever is later). Alimony from a charity, originating from Jewish law, which states that from the age of 15, the child can start working, take care of himself, and bear the full payments that have hitherto been imposed on his parents. Today this is irrelevant, as children at this age are still studying and therefore they continue to receive alimony.
Child support
Regarding the question of how much alimony is paid, the ruling states that even adult children are entitled to alimony because they continue to be close to their parents’ table. The ruling also recognized alimony payments for children who studied in a pre-military preparatory school or continued their high school studies beyond the twelfth grade. From the age of 18 to the age of 21/20 – an age in which the Israeli children usually serve in the IDF or in national service, one-third of the alimony determined is paid.
Where and how an alimony agreement is created
Alimony agreements are usually an integral part of a divorce agreement. There is an obligation to approve an agreement regarding alimony in the Family Court or in the Rabbinical Court. Sometimes, a couple of parents make a divorce agreement and then, over the years, they create a new arrangement regarding child support and there is an absolute obligation to approve such an agreement for it to have legal validity. It is important to know that there is a minimum payment of approximately NIS 1,250 for each child enshrined in the ruling, this is not a fixed amount and it varies in the various rulings. In any case, this amount does not include section fees (housing and its maintenance), education expenses, and exceptional expenses.
So as for how much alimony is paid – in the alimony agreement it is recommended to refer to components such as rent and housekeeping, clothing and footwear, child living expenses, health insurance, medicines, hygiene, birthdays, classes, camps, education, and other components. The more detailed the components are, the less the possibility of future disputes on this issue. If both parties have failed to reach an understanding as to the amount of alimony, the amount of the payment will be determined by the presiding judge. For the alimony calculator click here:
Due to the sensitive situation created surrounding the issue of alimony and due to the fact that there is no ruling uniformity in the matter, the Shipman Committee was appointed to examine the amount of alimony. Although the committee’s conclusions have not yet been adopted, the spirit of the conclusions is already blowing in the corridors of the family courts. In any case, it is important to consult with a divorce lawyer to check in advance all the terms of the alimony agreement, in order to preserve your full rights and take care of your children and their future in the best possible way.
