Spokane Spousal Support Lawyer

You may be required to pay spousal support if you were married or registered in a domestic partnership but get divorced. With help from an attorney, you can limit your spousal support payments or avoid having to pay your former spouse altogether. As such, meeting with a Spokane divorce lawyer who can review your legal options and help you determine the best course of action is beneficial.

At Divorce Lawyers for Men, we understand the challenges associated with divorce in Washington State. Our Spokane spousal support lawyer can learn about your case and help you make informed decisions throughout the legal process. For more information, please reach out to us.

When is a spouse or domestic partner entitled to support?

Spousal support is not automatic, but in Washington State, courts must consider maintenance orders from either spouse or domestic partner involved in a divorce.

Divorce Lawyers for Men takes the guesswork out of spousal support in Washington. spousal support lawyer in Spokane can provide you with divorce resources and answer any questions you have about alimony. To learn more, please get in touch with us.

What factors determine the amount of spousal support?

Washington State courts consider many factors when determining potential maintenance. These factors include the following.

Financial resources of the party seeking maintenance

The court will consider the assets of each individual in a marriage or domestic partnership. If one person has most of the assets, they may be required to pay spousal support to the other. If both parties have roughly equal assets, the court may be inclined to avoid a maintenance order.

Time required for the party seeking maintenance to attain financial independence

In a marriage or domestic partnership in which one individual covers most of the expenses, the court will consider how long it will take for both parties to become financially independent once again. For instance, one spouse may work while the other does not. In this instance, the court will account for how long the spouse who did not work during a marriage may take to find a job.

Following a marriage or domestic partnership, there is no timeline for one spouse or domestic partner to become financially independent again. The court will evaluate the time required for a party to attain financial independence in combination with other factors. This allows the court to decide what is a reasonable amount of time for this individual to recover financially.

Duration of the marriage or partnership

A Spokane spousal maintenance attorney will review your case in relation to how long you were with your spouse or domestic partner. How long you pay alimony can depend on the length of your marriage. The court divides marriages into three categories:

• Short-term marriage: Generally, a short-term marriage lasts less than five years.

• Medium-term marriage: Any marriage that lasts between roughly five and 25 years may be considered medium-term.

• Long-term marriage: If a couple is married for longer than 25 years, they are involved in a long-term marriage.

Your attorney will build an argument designed to help you minimize or avoid alimony, regardless of how long you were with your former spouse or domestic partner. They will look at all of the factors relating to your relationship to help you craft your argument. Your lawyer will also communicate and collaborate with you throughout the divorce process and put you in the best position to get your desired results.

Standard of living established during the marriage or domestic partnership

The standard of living should be nearly the same for both parties in a marriage or domestic partnership. In a divorce, the court will want both parties to be able to maintain the same standard of living and will order spousal support accordingly. The court may account for the current state of the economy and its impact on both parties’ standard of living as well.

Just because a couple maintained a higher-than-average standard of living does not mean that this will continue for both parties after a marriage or domestic partnership. The court wants each party to be able to take care of themselves and any children following a separation. It will order maintenance to ensure that both parties and their children have a sufficient amount of money to care for themselves and their kids.

Health and financial condition of the party seeking maintenance

One person in a marriage may be dealing with a severe health problem that prevents them from working. Or, an individual in a marriage may have to pay a large amount of debt. The court will account for these scenarios and many others relative to the health and financial condition of the party who wants maintenance.

It is in your best interests to hire an attorney rather than represent yourself as you go through the divorce process. A Spokane spousal maintenance lawyer will do everything they can to keep your alimony payments to a minimum. They can also help you avoid legal mistakes as you negotiate the terms of your separation.

How can a Spokane alimony attorney help me?

The divorce process can be stressful. If you move through this process independently, you risk costly and time-intensive mistakes. These mistakes can affect you now and in the future.

A Spokane spousal support attorney represents your best interests and protects your legal rights. Your lawyer will review your financial resources and those of the spouse who wants maintenance from you. They will explain how your finances can dictate whether the court orders you to pay spousal support and your lawyer will also do everything within their power to protect your assets. Plus, your lawyer will advocate for you and ensure you get the legal help you need exactly when needed.

In addition, a spousal support attorney in Spokane knows the ins and outs of the divorce process in Washington State. Your lawyer will work with you to negotiate a divorce agreement that meets your expectations. They will ensure that an agreement is put into place that helps you avoid expensive spousal support payments.

How long does spousal support last?

Ultimately, the length of your marriage has far-flung effects on how much you have to pay in spousal support. The court reviews the length of your marriage as it considers whether to order maintenance.

In divorce, a spouse or domestic partner will attempt to build a credible narrative against the other party. This individual will try to show the court that their former spouse or domestic partner should be required to pay spousal support due in part to the length of the relationship.

Arguing against a request for spousal support can be difficult, but an experienced lawyer can help you do just that. Your attorney will commit the time, energy, and resources required to understand your case. They will ask questions and ensure you present an argument that resonates with the court.

Your attorney will do what they can to dispute any claims against you. They will maintain open and honest communication with you as your case progresses. If you ever have concerns or questions during your litigation, your attorney is available to respond to them.

Contact a skilled Spokane alimony attorney today

The team at Divorce Lawyers for Men can connect you with a skilled Spokane alimony lawyer. We will give your case the attention it deserves. To get started, contact us online or call us at (360) 866-7393.

Frequently asked questions about alimony in Spokane

Alimony in Washington State is complicated, and you may have questions about it. Fortunately, we receive many questions about spousal support in Spokane every day. Here are answers to some of the most common questions we get about this topic.

Can a spouse receive both alimony and child support?

Spousal support and child support are two very different things. Your lawyer can explain the differences between the two. They will make sure that you are not ordered to pay them both.

Payments for spousal support payments are designed to help a financially dependent spouse get back on their feet following a divorce. The court will order alimony if it believes that it is in the best interests of all parties involved in a case. Meanwhile, one parent may be required to pay child support to the other parent based on several factors, including:

• Take-home pay for each parent
• How many children do the parents share
• How custody is split between the parents

If you have kids, the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services offers a child support estimator that you can use to determine your potential child support amount. You can also work with a Spokane child support attorney who can provide legal guidance and support as you go through your divorce and make sure that you are not required to pay an excessive amount of child support.

Can spousal support be changed after the divorce decree is entered?

In Washington, spousal support is not guaranteed after a marriage or domestic partnership ends. The court reviews each case as its entity. If the court looks at all the factors at its disposal and determines that alimony is warranted, it will issue a maintenance order.

Spousal support can be changed, but only under certain circumstances. Washington State has conditions for a modification of a maintenance decree. If you believe you are paying too much in alimony, an attorney can review your circumstances to determine if you have a solid case to request a modification.

Maintenance will no longer be paid if one spouse or domestic partner dies. Also, if one party in a divorce receives maintenance and gets remarried, this may qualify as a significant change in circumstances. Therefore, the court may order a reduction or termination of maintenance if it receives a request for a medication of spousal support at this time.