Spousal Support Attorney

A spousal support attorney handles cases related to spousal support. When one spouse in a divorce is awarded support by the court, depending on the length of the marriage and other factors, that spouse may be entitled to receive financial support from the other spouse. Spousal support is only granted when both spouses have reached an agreement, or a judge makes a ruling. In most cases, spousal support is structured in monthly payments. However, it can be structured in lump sum payments in some circumstances. A Strategic Divorce^TM spousal support attorney can help you understand your legal rights and ensure that you receive what you are entitled to under the law, even if your ex-spouse has difficulty fulfilling its obligations.

Types of Spousal Support

There are various types of spousal support, including:

• Transitional spousal support. Transitional spousal support is an amount of money paid by the wealthier spouse to the less wealthy spouse after divorce or separation. The court will only order an award of spousal support (also called maintenance) if it is requested by one of the spouses and agreed to by both. To be eligible for spousal support, you should have contributed to your partner’s career or business during your relationship.

• Compensatory spousal support. Compensatory spousal support may be ordered in long-term marriages, where one spouse has given up the ability to earn an income to stay home and care for the parties’ children. Compensatory spousal support is paid by the higher-earning spouse to the lower-earning spouse regardless of whether the marriage lasted ten years or thirty years

• Spousal maintenance. Spousal maintenance is an award of money from one ex-spouse to another. Spousal maintenance aims to provide for a spouse who cannot earn the income they need for their reasonable standard of living following separation or divorce. Spousal maintenance and child support are very different, for it is a type of support that applies only to spouses.

How to Terminate a Long-Term Spousal Support

What you need to know to terminate long-term support. Suppose a case is being prosecuted. The court determines that spousal support should be terminated because there is no longer a need or the paying spouse’s ability to pay has decreased due to circumstances beyond their control. In that case, parties can file an agreed order for modification for termination of spousal support. It can be done by agreement between both parties or through litigation by applying for modification of spousal support. With highly qualified and experienced spousal support attorneys, we prepare each case with personal attention, research, and litigation skills, resulting in a successful outcome for our clients.

Contact Us Today

At Strategic Divorce^TM, you’ll find experienced family law attorneys committed to excellence. We understand spousal support issues and strive to resolve them quickly and efficiently. Call us at (847) 234-4445 and book an appointment today.