Spousal support, which is also called alimony, is the payment from one spouse to another after a divorce has been completed. These payments can be determined based on a wide variety of factors that take into consideration the separate lives of the two individuals once the divorce has taken place. Whether you are arguing against having to pay spousal support, or arguing for payments to be made to you, an experienced family law attorney is vital to your success. Peter Flanagan is a California attorney who has been working family law cases for years and will bring that knowledge to your case.
Spousal support is not always required in divorce cases. When both spouses have careers of relatively equal earning power, there may be no need for payments to go from one party to the other. However, if one of the spouses makes most or all of the money in the marriage, it may be necessary for the court to rule that spousal support payments be made. Some of the factors that are taken into consideration in these cases are -
- Current earnings of both parties
- Future earnings potential of both parties
- Any limitations on employment
- Standard of living that the parties are accustomed to
Spousal support can be required on a temporary or permanent basis depending on the specifics of the case. Sometimes it is decided that a year or two of payments is long enough to get the other spouse up on their feet; other times, it is ruled that the other spouse will not be able to fully support themselves and spousal support must be paid in perpetuity.
Regardless of which side of the equation you are on, contact our office right away. Your financial future is largely dependent on the outcome of this hearing, so prepare yourself completely with the assistance of an experienced attorney. We will be happy to provide a free consultation when you call.