...

Spousal Maintenance in a Texas Divorce: Court-Ordered Maintenance

Spousal maintenance, commonly referred to as spousal support, remains a top concern for many potential clients at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC. After our previous post covering contractual spousal maintenance, we now turn our attention to court-ordered spousal maintenance, along with valuable advice on navigating maintenance requests.

Court-Ordered Spousal Maintenance: The Essentials

Judges can mandate spousal maintenance when deemed necessary and the recipient meets the eligibility criteria. This court-ordered spousal maintenance is binding, obligating you to comply, regardless of personal agreement or disagreement.

You should temper your worries about payment amounts and duration, as court-ordered spousal maintenance doesn’t always result in substantial payments or extended periods.

Eligibility Criteria for Court-Ordered Spousal Maintenance

To qualify for court-ordered spousal maintenance in Texas, a spouse must demonstrate an inability to meet basic needs post-asset division. This doesn’t equate to maintaining one’s accustomed lifestyle but rather securing shelter and sustenance.

Meeting these requirements can pose a challenge, given that most divorces result in both spouses leaving with adequate resources to cover their basic necessities.

Furthermore, specific conditions must be met, such as disability, a child’s disability, a history of family violence, or a marriage spanning at least a decade.

If you intend to request spousal maintenance, consider pursuing employment before initiating divorce proceedings, as courts may deny such requests if you haven’t actively sought income.

Determining the Amount and Duration of Spousal Maintenance

Judges confront two pivotal questions: the monthly amount and the duration of spousal maintenance. In general, the maximum sum a judge may order corresponds to the difference between your monthly expenses and income, aimed at meeting essential needs rather than facilitating an extravagant lifestyle.

A judge also assesses both spouses’ post-divorce earning potential and their capacity to cover expenses. Factors encompass age, education, work history, and prospects for further training.

For instance, a stay-at-home mother with a college degree and previous executive experience may encounter more hurdles securing spousal support than someone with only a high school diploma and no employment background.

Moreover, courts occasionally weigh uncommon factors, like the dissipation of community assets or the diversion of community income for extramarital affairs, when determining spousal maintenance awards.

Stay tuned for the final installment of our spousal maintenance series, which delves into the duration and amount of spousal maintenance awards. Should you have inquiries regarding spousal support or family law matters, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC. Our team offers complimentary consultations six days a week to assist you.

Ebook

Adobe Stock 62844981[2]If you want to know more about what you can do, CLICK the button below to get your FREE E-book: 16 Steps to Help You Plan & Prepare for Your Texas Divorce

Divorce Wasting Assets[4] If you want to know more about how to prepare, CLICK the button below to get your FREE E-book: 13 Dirty Tricks to Watch Out For in Your Texas Divorce, and How to Counter Them” Today!

  1. Spousal Maintenance in Texas: Maximum payable amounts and length of commitments to pay
  2. Spousal Maintenance in a Texas Divorce: Court Ordered Maintenance
  3. Know How to Determine Whether Alimony will be Owed and for How Long, When Preparing for Your Texas Divorce
  4. 3 Important Facts about Texas Alimony and Spousal Support
  5. Alimony or Spousal Support and a Disabled Spouse in Harris and Montgomery Counties in Texas
  6. Spousal Support, Spousal Maintenance, and Alimony in Spring and Houston Texas and when is it available?
  7. Can I sue my spouse’s mistress in Texas?
  8. My Spouse Has Accused Me of Adultery in my Texas Divorce and I Haven’t
  9. When is, Cheating Considered Adultery in a Texas Divorce?
  10. Sex, Lies, Rock-and-roll, and Adultery in a Texas Divorce
  11. Certain behaviors may indicate a spouse is hiding assets

 

Categories: Uncategorized

Share this article

Category

Categories

Contact Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC Today!

At the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, the firm wants to get to know your case before they commit to work with you. They offer all potential clients a no-obligation, free consultation where you can discuss your case under the client-attorney privilege. This means that everything you say will be kept private and the firm will respectfully advise you at no charge. You can learn more about Texas divorce law and get a good idea of how you want to proceed with your case.

Office Hours

Mon-Fri: 8 AM – 6 PM Saturday: By Appointment Only

"(Required)" indicates required fields