Under Bulgarian law the amount of alimony (издpъжкa) is set “according to the needs of the person entitled to maintenance and the possibilities of the person who owes it” (Family Code Art. 142, para 1). In turn, the Supreme Court has held that the “possibilities” of the obligor are determined by their income and their property (имyщecтвo) (PПBC № 5/16.11.1970 г.).
Courts will therefore look at the full spectrum of what an obligor earns and owns. In practice, that includes:
Income from all lawful sources and related financial assets:
Wages and salaries under employment or civil (consultancy/freelance) contracts
Profits from self-employment (sole proprietorships, freelancing)
Rental income from movable and immovable property
Proceeds from sale of property (real estate, vehicles, personal assets)
Dividends and profit shares from companies (both public and private)
Interest on bank deposits, bonds and other securities
Royalties (author’s fees, licenses) and technical/service fees
Pensions, social-security and other state-granted benefits
Bank-account balances and term deposits, bonds, shares and equity participations in companies
Real estate and other fixed assets:
Land plots and buildings (residential, commercial, agricultural)—all immovable property subject to local property tax
Registered vehicles (cars, motorcycles, boats, aircraft, heavy machinery)—all subject to vehicle tax
All other property (имyщecтвo):
Movable assets and valuables (jewelry, artwork, collectibles)
Receivables and outstanding loans owed to the obligor
Cash on hand
Life-insurance policies with a cash-surrender value
Intellectual-property rights (copyrights, patents) that generate royalty income
Business assets and equipment of companies in which the obligor has an ownership stake
In assessing “possibilities,” courts also take into account the obligor’s age, education, professional qualifications and any other dependents they must support.