How Does Alimony Work in California?
Alimony is known as “spousal support” under California law. It is an important source of financial support for spouses in need, especially for those who relied on their exes to pay the bills during the marriage. Suddenly, these dependent spouses may find themselves alone, possibly with children, and unable to cover a wide range of living expenses. Alimony addresses these problems with reliable, consistent income. A qualified attorney from RM Law Group can help you get the most out of your spousal support agreement in California.
Who Gets Spousal Support?
Spousal support is essentially a question of need and ability to pay. If you lack income and assets as you approach post-divorce life, spousal support can help you cover your living expenses. For example, your ex might have been the primary wage earner in your marriage, and you may have played the role of a homemaker or a stay-at-home parent. In this case, your contributions to the marriage may have been important, but you might have sacrificed a potential career in order to play this role. After establishing a need for spousal support, you will then have to demonstrate your spouse’s ability to pay it. For example, after taking into consideration any child support orders and reasonable living expenses, does your spouse have enough disposable income to prove his ability to pay spousal support?
If you earned an income during the marriage, you might still be eligible for some degree of spousal support. For example, you might have worked part-time at a relatively low-paying job while your spouse earned a six-figure income and paid most of the bills. In this case, the income disparity between the spouses would likely necessitate some form of spousal support.
If you did not earn any income during the marriage, you could still walk away without much spousal support. This may occur if you received a significant amount of inheritance. The court will see this and assume that you have more than enough to pay the bills, despite any income disparity between you and your ex. The same logic applies if you owned various assets prior to the marriage, such as access to a trust fund or real estate.
How Long Does Spousal Support Last?
The duration of your spousal support depends on a number of circumstances. First of all, it is important to note that spousal support may not be mandated by the family courts if your marriage was relatively short. Notwithstanding, for marriages under 10 years, the general rule of thumb is that you may be awarded spousal support for up to half the length of the marriage. However, spousal support can be awarded indefinitely for marriage over 10 years.
Where Can I Find a Qualified Family Law Attorney in California?
If you have been searching for an experienced family law lawyer in California, look no further than RM Law Group. We have assisted numerous spouses with many aspects of divorce over the years, including alimony. With our help, you can strive for a fair spousal support agreement that maximizes your financial well-being during the precarious first years of post-divorce life. Book your consultation today to get started with an effective action plan.
Jason Martinez is a co-founding partner of RM Law Group, LLP. His practice focuses exclusively on California Family Law and community property division, including litigation and settlement of complex and high-conflict divorce and child custody proceedings. Jason understands that divorce and family law issues have long-term effects on all family members, especially the children.
