SPOUSAL SUPPORT
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SPOUSAL SUPPORT
Spousal support, also referred to as spousal maintenance, is put in place with the idea of allowing both parties to continue living with the same economic status as they had prior to the divorce. This is most often put in place in a situation when one individual earned most (or all) of the income for the couple.
Spousal support is not the right of anyone in a divorce proceeding, and cannot be assumed. Unless agreed to outside of court, a judge will have to determine if it is warranted, and how much money should be paid from one ex-spouse to the other.
In general, there are two forms of spousal support –
Permanent. In a case when one former spouse is deemed unlikely to be able to obtain employment at any point sufficient to support themselves, permanent spousal support may be ordered. These payments will be made until death, or the court order is modified in some way.
• Temporary. In certain cases, the court may decide that temporary spousal support is more appropriate. This arrangement will have one ex-spouse paying the other for a determined period of time. This can allow for the non-working spouse to obtain employment and transition into a life of self-sufficiency.
Age, health, education, and past employment history may all be considered by the court when deciding on spousal support. In order to best represent your side of the case, you will want to enlist the help of an experienced family law attorney. Ted Williams has worked on many spousal support cases and will always fight for your rights. Give us a call today and we will be glad to provide a free consultation.
