Fountain Valley Spousal Support Lawyer

Fountain Valley Spousal Support Attorney

When faced with a divorce in Fountain Valley, the topic of spousal support will likely come up. Financial security is often the first thing divorcing spouses worry about. Thanks to its proximity to Santa Ana, Los Angeles, and Irvine, this Fountain of Youth city with the almost perfect climate has a high median income, which can lead to financial disagreements when it comes to divorce. Thankfully, a Fountain Valley spousal support lawyer is here to offer guidance.

Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP: Getting You the Outcome You Deserve

With over 100 years of combined experience behind us, the team at Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP, knows how difficult and strenuous a spousal support case and an overall divorce can be. We are here to spring into action on your behalf and ensure that your financial interests and the stability of your future are both secure. If you believe that your spouse is hiding assets in order to try and sway a support ruling in their favor, we’re ready to ensure your rights are protected.

Whether you are the spouse looking to receive support or the one who may be required to pay, the attorneys at Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP, are here for you and are up to the task of ensuring you receive the most favorable outcome possible in a spousal support case.

How Is Spousal Support Determined in Fountain Valley?

When we look back at the past, spousal support was more commonly awarded than it is today. In fact, only around 10% of divorces end with spousal support provisions as part of the final ruling. This can be attributed to several factors, the most common of which is that, in today’s day and age, both spouses tend to work outside of the home and generate their own sources of income.

However, it is still vital that spousal support be considered, no matter the case. This works to ensure that any financial disparities between the couple are accounted for.

Spousal support, also known as spousal maintenance, is a sum of money paid from one spouse to another in the event of a divorce, legal separation, or annulment. In California, spouses must reach a fair agreement regarding the potential for spousal support. When they cannot, they must turn to the courts, which will make this decision for them.

Spousal support is typically awarded on either a permanent or temporary basis, depending on the factors involved in the marriage. These factors can include:

• How long the couple has been married
• The income of both individuals — the median household income in Fountain Valley currently sits around $111,797
• How big an income disparity is between the two individuals
• The age and health status of the spouses involved
• The employable skills or experience of each individual spouse
• The financial contributions either spouse made during the marriage
• The non-monetary contributions each spouse made during the marriage, such as who stayed home to raise the children
• How the marital property will be divided between the two spouses
• The standard of living that was established during the marriage
• Whether any pre- or postnuptial agreements are in place, in California, around 45% of marriages include one

Keep in mind that there are also factors that can disqualify a spouse from being able to receive support. These situations can include any convictions for domestic abuse or violence, if you are able to support yourself financially without support from your spouse, and if the spouse responsible for paying support already has too many financial obligations.

Whether you are the spouse seeking support or the spouse who is looking to argue against having to pay support, the team at Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP, is here for you. Allow us to come alongside you during this difficult time and explain to you all of your legal options when it comes to spousal support.

Can Spousal Support Be Terminated in California?

In California, even after a divorce has been finalized, a permanent spousal support order can be modified or even terminated, depending on certain circumstances or changes experienced in your life. In some cases, the spouses involved may decide on an end date for the support. If they are unable to do so, then the court will do so for them. When cases do not have an end date assigned, the support can be automatically terminated under only two conditions:

• The death of either the paying or receiving spouse
• If and when the spouse receiving support either remarries or begins cohabitating with a new partner

Either spouse also has the power to request the courts modify any support orders under certain conditions. As the petitioning party, you must be able to prove that you have experienced a significant material change in order to pursue your desired modification. This is where a lawyer’s experience and legal know-how come in handy.

There are two main kinds of modifications to spousal support you may be able to seek in California. These include:

• Temporary modifications. These modifications work to address any short-term changes you or your ex-spouse experience, such as temporary unemployment, temporary health problems, needing to complete certain education or job training, or experiencing short-term financial difficulty.
• Permanent modifications. These modifications can occur when a permanent, lasting, and significant change has taken place in your life. These include career changes, retirement, or suffering a long-term disability.

At Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP, we are here to review your life circumstances and help determine if you have experienced a significant enough change to warrant spousal support modification or termination. Trust us to keep your interests at the forefront of our minds.

Hire a Spousal Support Lawyer Serving Fountain Valley Today

If you are facing a divorce in Fountain Valley, you need to hire a spousal support lawyer as soon as possible. At Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP, we have a proven track record of success when it comes to all matters of family law and are here to provide you with the counsel and representation necessary to obtain, modify, or argue against support. Whatever your side might be in a divorce, we can help. Contact our offices today to schedule your initial appointment.

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