Finances can cause a strain on a family, and when you separate from your partner, it can be difficult to know how things will work moving forward regarding finances and your lifestyle. Getting experienced legal advice from a Tacoma spousal support lawyer is of the utmost importance. At Lutz & Associates, P.S., we provide you with the effective representation you need. Our skilled family law attorneys have been helping clients determine spousal support since 1997.
How Is Spousal Support Determined?
In Washington, the court determines spousal support during a divorce very differently from something like child support. Spousal support considers many different factors, including:
- Length of the marriage
- Financial conditions for each spouse
- Age and emotional state of both spouses
- Length of time the spouse who makes less money would need to become self-sufficient
Together, you and your spousal support lawyer in Tacoma can look at your case and determine what is fair. While our goal is to work with your spouse’s attorney, we are not afraid of a challenge.
How Long Does a Spouse Pay Spousal Maintenance?
The duration of spousal support typically depends on the length of a marriage. Spousal maintenance is rarely expected after a short-term marriage of less than five years but is common after a marriage of 25 years or longer when one spouse was dependent on the other. For marriages lasting five to 25 years, a typical expectation by a family law judge is that spousal support will last for about one year for every three to four years of marriage.
Factors that may influence the amount and duration of spousal support include the resources of each spouse, the time needed for the receiving spouse to get education or training to become self-sufficient, and the standard of living that was established during the marriage. The terms of a court order or negotiated settlement will determine whether spousal support will apply, and for how long. Spousal support is rarely expected after a short-term marriage and typically ends if the recipient spouse remarries or registers a domestic partnership. Working with our spousal support lawyers in Tacoma means getting a clearer picture of what to expect from payment duration in your particular circumstances.
Call a Tacoma Attorney Today For Guidance on Spousal Maintenance
In matters of divorce, we will do our best to make sure you receive fair compensation or are not taken advantage of if you owe spousal maintenance. We are determined to figure out the fairest possible settlement for all parties involved. If you have questions, do not wait to contact a Tacoma spousal support lawyer. Let us help you figure out your financial future. Call our office today at (253) 471-7774 or fill out our contact form to start the process.
