Mission Viejo Spousal Support Lawyer

Mission Viejo Spousal Support Attorney

Ending a marriage is never a decision made lightly. Divorce brings about many different challenges and changes to your life, especially in areas where your finances are concerned. Whether you own a home near Lake Mission Viejo or own a place of business along Alicia Parkway, seeking divorce is difficult no matter the circumstances, and it is vital to ensure you are financially stable when all is said and done. A Mission Viejo spousal support lawyer can help.

Defend Your Rights in a Spousal Support Case With Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP

With over 100 years of combined experience, the team at Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP, has a successful track record of helping individuals across California when it comes to the intricacies of family law. Each and every one of us is committed to providing you and your loved ones with the detailed and comprehensive legal care you deserve. Whether you are hoping to secure spousal support or argue against it, we are here to guide you through the entire process.

What Is Spousal Support in Mission Viejo, California?

In 2022, California saw a divorce rate of 5.9 per every 1,000 residents. For many of these couples, spousal support was a key area of their case. Spousal support is a term used to describe the event in which one spouse will be required to pay the other spouse a certain amount of money over a certain period of time during or following a divorce.

In many cases, you and your spouse will likely be able to come to an amicable agreement regarding spousal support. However, in a situation where the couple is unable to come to this decision on their own, they will need to look to the courts and to a family law judge to make this decision for them.

When making a determination regarding spousal support in a Mission Viejo divorce, the judge will take into account several different factors. These factors can include:

• The length of the marriage
• The age and health status of both spouses
• The mental condition of each spouse
• Whether there is any disparity in the income of both spouses’
• The standard of living each spouse was used to during the marriage
• The individual assets owned by each spouse
• Whether there are any prenuptial or postnuptial agreements involved, which, in California, are involved in around 45% of marriages taking place each year
• The time it will take the dependent spouse to become self-sufficient or financially independent
• Whether there are any minor children involved in the marriage, and if child support will become necessary
• The professional skills or educational opportunities that the dependent spouse may have

Some people may believe that the gender of the spouses will also be taken into consideration when the judge makes a ruling on spousal support. In 1979, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that spousal support, also called alimony, needed to be gender neutral. This means that any spouse, regardless of their gender, can seek alimony.

Yet, the truth is that of the 400,000 individuals receiving post-divorce spousal support currently in the United States, only around 3% of them are men. For this reason, amongst many others, having the support of a Mission Viejo spousal support attorney is vital.

How Long Spousal Support Can Last

The duration of a spousal support order will depend on the unique circumstances of your specific case. Because of this added layer of complexity, having an attorney on your side to ensure your financial interests are protected is key. In most cases, an end date for spousal support can be agreed upon between the divorcing couple. However, if the couple is unable to reach an agreement, the judge can make this decision.

When there is no end date established for a spousal support order, the payments can be terminated if one of the following situations occurs:

• The spouse receiving support either remarries or begins to cohabitate with a new partner
• Either spouse dies

Depending on the kind of support involved in a case, either spouse may also be able to seek a modification to the original court order. This modification could lower the payments, terminate the support, or increase it. Seeking a spousal support modification is only allowed under certain circumstances. These include a drastic change in health for either spouse, a change in income for either spouse, or the loss of employment for either spouse.

In California, there are two main types of support that can be awarded, each with its own duration.

Temporary spousal support is typically granted to the lower-earning spouse while the divorce case is still being processed. The purpose of this support is to help the less financially independent spouse afford the necessary costs of living while they are awaiting a final court decision regarding the potential for any long-term support.

Long-term spousal support can be awarded when all details of the divorce have been finalized and the court has made its official ruling. Keep in mind, however, that just because you have been awarded long-term support, it does not mean that this support is now permanent. When a change in circumstances happens for either party, the courts can evaluate the duration, amount, and need of spousal support.

At Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP, we can help you determine the potential duration and amount of support you are either able to seek or be required to pay, depending on the situation. While hiring a lawyer isn’t required in California, it can make all the difference when it comes to seeking the outcome you most desire and deserve in a spousal support case.

Hire a Spousal Support Lawyer Today: Contact Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP

Going through a divorce is one of the hardest experiences you will have to face in your lifetime. You will likely undergo several changes, and the stress caused by financial insecurity can only add to the difficulties you are already dealing with. At Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP, we are here to serve you, whatever your stance might be in a spousal support case. Contact our offices and let us offer you the clarity you deserve. Hire a spousal support lawyer today.

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