Spousal Support (Alimony)

Orange County Spousal Support Attorneys

Few things cause dispute in a divorce as does the idea of spousal support. The paying party feels that they should not have to support someone to whom they are no longer married. The receiving party often feels that they should be entitled to a larger amount. Whichever side of the issue you are on it is important to understand that divorce represents a new phase in your life and how the Court rules on alimony will have an impact on how you begin this next step. Retaining an experienced divorce and spousal support lawyer can be crucial. Our Orange County spousal support attorneys assist those in Irvine, Santa Ana, and elsewhere in the area. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.

Spousal support lawyers assisting those in Anaheim, Laguna Niguel, and elsewhere in Orange County

Spousal Support is often disputed as part of the contested divorce process. Support can take both a temporary and permanent form. Temporary support can be granted in the very early stage of a case and is meant to be in place while the marriage dissolution proceeds through the Court. Permanent support will be be awarded after the matter concludes at a trial where the Judge will Order an amount and duration for which the support will last. The Court’s decision regarding the amount and duration of support will be based on several factors.

California law determines the amount and duration of spousal support by weighing several factors. Under family code §4320 the Court will consider:

• The extent to which each spouse has the earning capacity necessary to maintain the standard of living they enjoyed during marriage
• The extent to which the paying party obtained a degree, specialized knowledge, or other skills through the assistance of the receiving party
• The paying party’s ability to make the payments
• The duration of the marriage
• The age and mental health of each party and whether one spouse has been traumatized by domestic violence
• The tax consequences of spousal support
• Goal of self-support for both parties
• Any other factors which the Court considers relevant

Each party will be required to disclose certain financial information at the onset of the case. The Court will use this initial financial information to issue a temporary support award. Each spouse will then have the ability to use discovery, the process by which information is gained from the other side, to build a case for or against the payment of support. The obtained information will be presented at trial and the Judge will issue a decision. It is important to have an attorney help you with this process.

Our spousal support lawyers aggressively protect the interests of their clients during such disputes. Once retained we will immediately file a request or opposition regarding support, if warranted. We will then use the discovery process to gain information relevant to the case. Such information may include employment information, job search histories, bank statements, credit card information, and other relevant records. We will present all acquired evidence to the Court, argue the merits of any spousal support claim, and ensure that your interests are protected throughout the process. We understand how serious the situation is to your future financial health; we will take your case seriously. Contact us today.

Our attorneys service all of Orange County, including Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Habra, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Orange, Placentia, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Tustin, Westminster, and Yorba Linda.

Attorneys providing a high level of service to Orange County residents facing alimony

Divorce is one of life’s most stressful events. There are also few things as hard as financial stress. Alimony creates an intersection of these two stress types. The last thing you need when going through a spousal support dispute is to have an attorney who does not return your calls or answer your questions. Our family law lawyers promptly return phone calls and emails, make themselves available to answer your questions, and take steps to ensure that you know what to expect as your case moves forward. This is our promise to each of our clients.