San Diego Spousal Support Lawyer

When two people get divorced, much of what occurs as the parties work towards a final dissolution is set out in the California statutes. As a community property state, most assets assigned to the marital estate are divided according to a relatively set equation. However, there are remedies to a divorce that are not always part of the final dissolution, and one of them is spousal support, which is commonly known as alimony. Contact divorce lawyers in San Diego for a free legal consultation about your spousal support case.

Why Choose a San Diego Spousal Support Attorney?

• The attorneys at Scott Family Law have more than 85 years of combined experience representing clients in all types of family law matters, including trial proceedings.
• We have a history of obtaining successful results for our clients. This includes a $750,000 verdict for domestic abuse and the successful defense of a client who was falsely accused in a $10 million lawsuit.
• James Scott is a board-certified family specialist, equipped to handle all matters of the divorce and separation process, including mediation and spousal support.

What is Alimony?

Alimony, also called spousal support, refers to financial support payments made by one spouse to the other mandate by the court. Spousal support is given during the process of a legal separation or a divorce. The financial payments are made in regular, scheduled installments. Alimony is ordered when a judge in family court decides that one spouse will still be financially responsible for the other spouse during divorce proceedings.

What is Temporary Spousal Support vs. Permanent Spousal Support?

Temporary spousal support is ordered during a divorce that has not been finalized yet. It is often calculated by a guideline calculator, similar to child support. Permanent spousal support is when the family law court has finalized the dissolution of a marriage.

The Basics of California Spousal Support

Below are the considerations that judges are required to consider when one party moves for spousal support after a San Diego divorce. However, rather than attempt to convince the presiding judge to consider these factors in certain ways yourself, you need to put your best foot forward by securing the help of a San Diego spousal support attorney. Call us at (858) 974-4900 for a free consult.

Statutory Considerations

California law puts forth 14 different factors that should be considered by a judge when the issue of spousal support is relevant to a case. A San Diego spousal support lawyer can help you sort out which are relevant to you. These factors include:

1. The ability to the marital standard of living in light of earning capacities - The law tacitly provides that one party to a divorce should not be forced to suffer in terms of lifestyle because of the divorce, and the ability to earn one’s own standard of living is considered.
2. Contributions to the other spouse’s education, licensing, etc. - Many marriages begin where one spouse supports the other while he or she goes to school. This is taken into consideration if the parties seek a divorce.
3. The supporting spouse’s ability to pay - Obviously, a court will not order spousal support if it puts the supporting spouse in a position of financial peril.
4. Needs relative to the marital standard of living - Needs is a term that tends to make people think of food and shelter. However, needs can encompass more than those necessities in a divorce setting.
5. Assets and debts of the parties - When a marital estate is divided, each party will likely walk away with certain assets and certain debts. Those are taken into consideration when deciding on a motion for spousal support.
6. Duration of the marriage - Generally, the longer the parties have been married, particularly if one spouse has not worked for many years, the more likely it is that a support order will be issued.
7. The employability of the custodial spouse and the impact on children - The judge will consider whether the spouse who has custody of the children can find gainful employment and whether securing such employment will negatively impact the children of the marriage.
8. General age and health of the parties - There is no hard-and-fast equation for this factor, but rather the judge must seek an equitable solution.
9. Domestic violence - Any history of domestic violence must be documented and proven in order to be considered in regards to spousal support.
10. Tax consequences - There are situations where any spousal support could create taxable events that would place an undue burden on one or both parties.
11. Goal of self-support - Most spousal support considerations should include analysis of whether the supported spouse can eventually support him or herself.
12. Relative hardships - This involves basic equity and the judge’s duty to not impose unfair burdens on the supporting party.
13. Conviction for spousal abuse - Any record of a conviction for spousal abuse is a required factor to consider.
14. General equity - Overall, the judge must move towards a spousal support decision that’s fair to both parties.

What Factors Are Considered for Spousal Support Modifications?

There are a number of specific reasons that can arise that lead to a finding that spousal support should be modified in California, and the legal standard that the court tends to use is known as a material change of circumstances. This material change can occur in several different ways, and when someone files an Order to Show Cause with the court, similar factors will be used to decide whether that spousal support order should be modified as were used when originally deciding on the issue during the divorce. Examples of these factors include:

• The ability to maintain the marital standard of living in relation to earning potential for each party
• Contributions to the other spouse’s education, job training
• The supporting spouses ability to pay the support
• Duration of the marriage
• Age and health of the parties

There are some California divorces that result in an order for spousal support to be paid by one spouse to another for a variety of reasons. When these orders are entered, they tend to be seen as orders that are generally permanent in nature. Fortunately, that is not necessarily the case, as there are different scenarios that are basically founded on fairness that allow for spousal support orders to be modified. Those who have reason to pursue such a modification should seek the help of an experienced San Diego spousal support attorney, and below is a brief introduction to this issue.

Examples of Material Changes in Circumstances

While every case is different and every situation is somewhat unique, there are certain situations that can arise that can lead to a modification of spousal support. Examples of these common situations include:

• The loss of income of the supporting spouse
• A substantial rise in the income of the spouse receiving support
• Cohabitation of the spouse receiving support
• A refusal of the spouse receiving support to find employment when generating income is possible

Once again, there are many scenarios that can arise, but the bottom line for anyone who feels that things have changed and that their spousal support order should do so accordingly should take immediate steps to get this process moving. Get more information from a spousal support attorney in San Diego.

How to Proceed with A San Diego Spousal Support Attorney

Of course, even if the original decision is made regarding spousal support, it does not mean that it cannot be terminated or modified should circumstances change. If you need help with this issue, contact the San Diego alimony lawyers at Scott Family Law today to schedule an initial consultation. Call us today at 1-858-974-4900.