Spousal Support
Divorce is an all-encompassing transition that separates you from your partner physically, emotionally, and financially. Separation from a partner can lead to fears of financial insecurity. You may have depended on your partner for monetary support, or you might have forgone a career to care for your family and are left without a certain career path. Regardless of where you stand, spousal support, also known as spousal maintenance or alimony, helps to ensure neither partner is left financially compromised. This allows you to continue receiving support when you cannot support yourself independently.
Miranda, Magden & Miranda
Determining Spousal Support in California
After a divorce, it’s important that both partners are financially situated. In some marriages, both partners were financially interdependent and cannot manage on their own. While spousal support is not required in cases like this, it may still be beneficial depending on the circumstances. When deciding spousal support, the courts will consider many factors including:
- The financial wellbeing of each partner: Financial independence is important to ensure both partners can sustain themselves. Each partner’s income must reach their location’s standard of living, and the lower-income partner will receive support until he or she is able to support themselves. This extends to the providing partner’s ability to pay spousal support: if this partner cannot afford spousal support, another course of action must be made.
- Employment: Employability impacts whether you can support yourself independently and provide for your children. If a partner has a history of unemployment or inability to work, this may impact his or her ability to secure a steady income. Therefore, each partners’ professional skill sets or lack thereof are considered to determine whether support is necessary.
- How long the marriage lasted: Aside from the amount of support and how it’s directed, the courts must also determine the duration. In most cases, support is temporary and is provided only until the other partner has developed the necessary skills to secure employment. However, there are circumstances in which extended support of an undetermined length might be feasible. Cases like this are usually limited to long-term marriages or those that lasted for ten years or more.
This list is not exhaustive. Just as there are different cases, there is no one form of alimony that will fit every couple’s needs. Therefore, you may receive or provide varying levels of spousal support depending on your circumstances. Your case may have more variables to consider that impact your support settlement, such as your health, domestic abuse, and more. Furthermore, you might be required to provide evidence of each condition, which is a matter suited for the assistance of a family law attorney.
Contact a Divorce Attorney
Spousal support is not a simple matter: it is best to let a competent divorce attorney handle and guide you through your case. The team at Miranda, Magden & Miranda, LLP is experienced in divorce complications like spousal support, as we have successfully represented clients in many spousal support cases in the past. Please contact us today, and we will look forward to speaking with you during a case evaluation.
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Jeaneth S.
Thank you Miranda and team for the excellent service provided. Miranda is a compassionate, understating, extremely knowledgeable and professional attorney. Her team was always on top of everything making my legal process less stressful. I could never thank Miranda and her assistant Ingrid for holding my hand throughout this difficult process (literally). Miranda is one of the BEST immigration lawyers ever! I would definitely recommend her.
Prasad S.
They represented my custody case and handled it like it is their own case and they are best in Monterey County.
Bryan B.
The entire team at MMM are superstars! I appreciate all the time and prep that went into my original case many years ago. And now recently, I asked for some help on a follow-up custody matter that I felt I could handle myself but just needed their expertise to properly represent all the important details. They are knowledgeable, extremely thorough, and prepared me for every possible scenario. I can't thank them enough!
Michael J.
My partner and I sought legal advice on bringing my fiance' to the United States with this office after having called a few immigration attorney offices around Monterey County. Having never sought legal advice before it was a refreshing experience in which we both really felt that Patricia listened intently to our goals and needs, and then not only gave us thorough advice, but also she really showed a lot of empathy with our situation and all the challenges we faced in what we trying to do. I would definitely recommend this office for anyone who is unclear about what..
Coleen and Max B.
Working with Patricia was a professional encounter unlike any other, an absolute 5-star experience. From the first moment, we walked into our consultation until the moment our case was closed and my husband walked away with his permanent resident card Patricia was communicative, professional, and thorough. Her team contacted us every step of the way providing valuable process and law changes we would not have been able to catch if we tried to navigate this endeavor alone. Patricia answered our endless question stream with thoughtfulness and care, calling us countless times to ensure we were clear on every piece of..
Jennifer V.
Last year, I had just moved in the area and needed a family law attorney for a custody case. The process of finding/choosing an attorney could be daunting. However, when I went in for my first consultation with Levi my stress level was immediately mollified. He was personable, which made me feel comfortable to discuss my personal matters freely. I had a lot of questions of the legal process that would take place and he took the time to explain everything with meticulous detail. More importantly, when I called Levi he returned my phone calls in a timely/professional time frame...