Alimony and Spousal Support Lawyer in San Antonio Getting You What You Deserve

A major aspect of getting a divorce is determining which parent will retain custody of the children, and how much money each spouse is going to owe for child support. But what about alimony? Alimony is a form of financial support paid from one ex-spouse to another after a divorce in order to allow both spouses to maintain a similar standard of living they had when they were still together. The idea behind the system is that being married can be expensive, so it is only fair that one party bears most of the burden when the marriage ends.

In Texas, temporary alimony or spousal support can be awarded during a divorce proceeding until a final decree is issued if there are specific circumstances that makes this necessary. No matter what family law and alimony-related needs you need assistance with, it’s never easy going up against the other party alone. The best thing you can do is hire a reputable alimony lawyer who will fight for your rights and make sure you get a fair deal.

Divorce isn’t only about the division of assets and debts, child custody, or alimony. There are many different aspects that should be considered during a divorce case in order to achieve the most favorable outcome possible. If you’d like to discuss your situation with attorneys specializing in family matters in San Antonio today, give us a call at 210-775-0353.

What is Alimony?

Alimony is the regular payment one spouse makes to the other to provide support during or after a divorce proceeding.  In Texas, a court order for alimony is called “spousal maintenance.”

The court can order spousal maintenance if the spouse seeking support will not have enough property at the time of the divorce to provide for basic needs and one of the following criteria is met:

• One spouse is convicted of committing family violence during the divorce or within two years before the divorce was filed
• The spouse seeking support is unable to earn enough income because of a physical or mental disability
• The spouses were married for ten years or longer, and the spouse seeking support is unable to earn enough income to provide for basic needs
• The spouse seeking support has custody of a child who requires special care and supervision because of a mental or physical disability

How Long Do Spousal Support Payments Last?

After the need for a maintenance order has been approved, the judge will consider several factors to determine how much support will be and how long the support will last:

• Each spouse’s financial resources at the time of the divorce
• Each spouse’s education and employment skills
• The duration of the marriage
• The age, employment history, earning ability, and physical and emotional health of the spouse seeking maintenance
• Whether either spouse is paying child support
• Whether either spouse spent community property funds excessively or destroyed/disposed of joint property
• Whether the spouse seeking support contributed to the education or training of the other spouse
• The property each spouse brought to the marriage
• Whether one spouse was a homemaker
• Acts of adultery or cruel treatment by either spouse
• Any family violence

No matter what the circumstances are, the court must limit the length of the order. This allows the spouse receiving payments to get on their feet and achieve the skills to be able to earn enough income to meet basic needs, unless that spouse cannot do so because of a disability, an infant or young child of the marriage, or because there is some other reason that the spouse cannot be self-supporting.

How Can an San Antonio Alimony Attorney Help Me?

Alimony can be a contentious issue when going through a divorce. There have been many high-profile cases where athletes or celebrities receive massive payouts due to their celebrity status that involve spousal support payments, but this doesn’t mean that every case will proceed the same way. The amount awarded depends on several factors such as length of the marriage, income disparity between parties, total property acquired during the marriage (and its value), and more. All of this can be incredibly complicated without an experienced Alimony attorney’s help.

A divorce can be a stressful process for everyone involved, which is why it is important to have someone who will fight for your rights and make sure you get a fair deal. At our law firm, we care about our clients and work hard to get them the results they deserve. Even if you feel like there isn’t much of a chance that you’ll receive any kind of support from your spouse, please contact us today so we can review your case and determine the best course of action.

Which Alimony and Spousal Support Law Firm is Right for Me?

Alimony payments for spousal maintenance should be paid for reasonable needs. There are many factors that are taken into consideration when looking at whether or not an alimony order is necessary. We take the guesswork out of any alimony payments and spousal support cases to ensure you get the results that you deserve. Speak with our law firm today by calling 210-775-0353.