Spousal Support
With over 100 years of combined legal experience, our team is highly qualified to provide legal services for your most difficult family circumstances.
Tustin Spousal Support Attorney
The end of a marriage often ushers in a period of financial insecurity. People who have spent years establishing a career and building a professional reputation may be able to financially recover from divorce rather quickly. But, for those who spent their prime working years raising children or keeping a home, it can take quite a bit longer to get to a place of financial stability. People in this situation often benefit from spousal support.
Spousal support, which is also known as alimony, is sometimes awarded in situations where one spouse has supported the other throughout the marriage. When courts are deciding if spousal support should be awarded in a divorce, they often consider the following factors:
- Length of the marriage
- Age and health of the parties
- Standard of living during the marriage
- Whether one party was out of the workforce for any domestic reason
The length of time for which spousal support is awarded usually depends on the length of the marriage. If a couple was married for fewer than 10 years, spousal support is typically awarded for up to half the length of the marriage, but exceptions may apply. In long-term marriages, the amount of “permanent” spousal support is either agreed upon between the two parties in an amicable split, or it is decided by a judge in a contested case whereby the Court decides the marital standard of living and makes support orders according to the receiving parties needs and the payors ability to pay the support.
If you are facing divorce as the spouse who does not have a career or have regular earnings to fall back on, you may be panicking right now. You may be worried about how you will pay your bills, provide for your children, and afford a lifestyle that looks anything like the lifestyle you have enjoyed. Our law firm is experienced in helping stay at home parents, homemakers, and low earners. We know how to help you get a fair settlement that protects your interests and that acknowledges the sacrifices you’ve made for your family.
Perhaps you’re on the other side of this issue. As the higher earner, you may be worried that your income will be overwhelmed by spousal support payments to an ex who can provide for himself or herself but is not working to their ability. You may wonder what your post-marriage life will be like if you do not have financial flexibility. We are familiar with the multitude of factors that go into spousal support decisions and we’re here to guide you through the process. No matter the position you’re in, our lawyers can help you arrive at a settlement that protects your interests.
