Los Angeles Spousal Support Lawyer

What is Spousal Support & How Do You Calculate It?

Previously known as alimony, spousal support is an award which may be granted to a former spouse based on a decision made by the couple or by the court.

The purpose of spousal support is to provide a continuing income to a lower-wage-earning spouse or a non-wage-earning spouse to reduce any unfair economic effects of a divorce.

There are many reasons why spousal support may be awarded, including:

• One spouse has forgone his or her career to support the family and now needs time to develop job skills to develop him or herself
• A spouse must continue the standard of living provided during a marriage

How Spousal Support Is Determined in Los Angeles, California

Spousal support in our state may be determined in one of two ways:

• By virtue of the DissoMaster (if it is temporary)
• Determined at trial or after a judgment has been entered

The amount of spousal support paid will depend on a variety of factors.

Some of the most common factors that are taken into consideration include:

• A couple’s standard of living
• How long the couple was married
• The age, physical health, emotional state, and financial condition of both spouses
• The ability of the payer spouse to support his or her former spouse and him or herself
• The amount of time required for a spouse to “uptrain” his or herself so they can become self-sufficient
• Where children are involved, whether having a job would make it difficult to effectively take care of the children
• Any debts and properties accumulated during the relationship
• If one partner supported the other in completing any training, education, or professional licenses
• The presence of domestic violence in the relationship
• The impact of the spousal support on either party’s taxes

These are only some of the factors that contribute to a judge’s ruling in a spousal support case, as well as the length of time that the order is in effect. Judges may set an end date for spousal support during the ruling, however in the case of a long-term relationship this could be left open until a mutual agreement is made, or the partner receiving the support remarries or enters a new domestic partnership.

The Gavron Warning & Why it Matters

In the state of California, we have something which is referred to as a “Gavron warning.” A Gavron Warning is directed towards a party who is unemployed yet who the other party believes can and should be employed and self-supporting.

Should a party refuse to take action, it is possible that both parties may go back to court and will be able to modify support based on the other party’s refusal to implement the Gavron warning.

Why Hire a Los Angeles Spousal Support Attorney

Filing for divorce can be stressful enough. Requesting spousal support – and wondering if you are entitled to it – can further complicate proceedings if not approached with the utmost care.

If your former spouse was the primary provider and you are not sure how you will make ends meet, or if you are unsure about whether or not you should still be paying spousal support, Los Angeles spousal support attorney is Lavinsky Law are here to help.

Our dedicated divorce attorneys in Los Angeles help parties negotiate fair spousal agreements and terminations. Our goal is to ensure that you are properly supported so that you can move onto the next chapter of your life as easily as possible so you can enjoy brighter days.

If you have any questions about spousal support or are hoping to make an adjustment to your current order, we can help.