Alimony & Spousal Support in Spring, TX
Work with a Spring Divorce Attorney
In Texas, divorcees can petition for alimony or spousal support. Both alimony
and spousal support are regular payments that a spouse makes to provide
the other with support during or after a divorce proceeding. These amount
of payments is based on the unique needs and earning potential of both spouses.
There are several differences between alimony and spousal support:
-
Alimony: The payment given to a spouse during the divorce proceeding as maintenance
and a way to help a spouse get back on his or her feet financially. Alimony
is also known as spousal maintenance in the state of Texas.
-
Spousal support: Regular, court-mandated payments that last after the divorce as a way
to supplement a spouse's income or provide for him or her.
Do you qualify for spousal maintenance?
The court can order spousal maintenance if the spouse who is seeking the
payment will not have enough property at the time of the divorce to provide
for his or her basic needs. Normally, the courts will consider alimony
if one spouse was convicted of committing family violence against the
other spouse during the marriage. Also, if the spouse seeking support
is unable to earn income because of a disability, the court is normally
generous with awarding spousal support.
Spouses can also qualify for support if they were married for ten years
or longer and the spouse seeking support is unable to earn enough income
to keep up the standard of living that he or she experienced prior to
divorce. Also, if the spouse seeking support has custody of a child who
has a physical disability, spousal support is common in addition to child support.
What the Court Considers when Awarding Support / Alimony
The court doesn't just award alimony to any spouse who requests it.
The court understands that, sometimes, the paying spouse cannot handle
the expense of spousal support and the payments may not be feasible. For
this reason, the court will typically look at a variety of factors, including:
- The financial resources of each spouse at the time of the divorce
- The length of the marriage
- The age, employment history, earning ability, and physical and emotional
health of the spouse
- Child support obligations
- Use of community property funds
- Each spouse's education and employment skills
- Any acts of adultery committed in the relationship
- Any patterns of family violence
- The property that each spouse brought to the marriage
- Whether or not one spouse acted as a homemaker in the marriage
- Whether the spouse seeking support contributed to the education or training
of the other spouse
Questions About Spousal Support?
If you want more information about spousal support and alimony, don't
hesitate to
contact the firm today!
Spring divorce attorney Bryan Fagan may be able to advocate for you in these matters, whether
you are the paying spouse or the recipient. The firm is almost exclusively
focused on family law and divorce cases, giving Attorney Fagan a unique
understanding of even the most complex cases.
Don't hesitate to retain the counsel you need. Contact the firm today
at (281) 810-9760.