Spousal Support Attorneys in Orange County
Spousal support, also known as alimony, is a financial payment made by one spouse to the other after a divorce or legal separation. The purpose of spousal support is to provide financial assistance to the spouse who is in a weaker financial position, typically the person who’s been out of the workforce or has lower earning potential.
If one spouse earns significantly more than the other, spousal support may be an issue if they divorce. Spousal support is a common topic when one partner gave up their career to stay at home to focus on the children and home. The role of spousal support in divorce has changed tremendously over the years, so you may be unsure whether or not it’s relevant in your divorce.
Take some time to find an Orange County spousal support attorney who can help you navigate your rights and options as you move forward. All of the firms listed here have been verified to be local to you and ready to help.
Helpful Information About Choosing an Orange County Spousal Support Lawyer
- You can research the Bar license status, suspensions or reprimands of an attorney at the California Bar Association website.
- The California Bar Association offers a “Specialist” certification for family attorneys, if they choose to pursue it. Not every one who is facing a spousal support dispute needs a California Bar Certified Family Law Specialist, but some people prefer a lawyer who is specialized in this area of law. Certified family law specialists tend to require a higher rate than non-certified lawyers.
- Spousal support lawyers typically require an initial retainer for services, often $1,000 – $5,000 or more depending on the complexities of your circumstances.
Is Spousal Support Always Ordered?
In the past, spousal support was a standard part of divorce. This was in a time when women were largely financially dependent on men and were traditionally left disadvantaged after divorce. Now, spousal support is only ordered when the circumstances of the marriage call for it. If the divorce is likely to leave one party at a significant disadvantage when it comes to maintaining their standard of living, spousal support may be on the table for discussion.
How Long Does Spousal Support Last?
There are no hard and fast rules for spousal support, as the court has a lot of discretion in this area. However, the court generally starts with half the length of the marriage. The goal generally isn’t to support the lower-earning party for the rest of their life. The goal is to provide extra support as they gain the skills and education needed to support themselves. As a result, permanent alimony is very rare.
Orange County Child Support Lawyers:
Relevant Factors Impacting Spousal Support
A number of factors come into play when deciding whether or not to order spousal support and how much to order. These factors include:
- The specific needs of each spouse
- The standard of living enjoyed by each spouse during the marriage
- Each spouse’s earning capacity
- How much education and training the lower-earning spouse would need to become self-sufficient
- The higher-earning spouse’s ability to pay
- Each party’s age and health
- Contributions made to the marriage, both financial and non-financial
Spousal Support Attorneys Near Me:
Modifying or Terminating Spousal Support in California
There are circumstances that may call for changing or ending spousal support. To start, spousal support ends when the receiving spouse remarries or when either party dies. However, the paying spouse may request a modification if they believe that circumstances have changed. This may occur if the paying spouse has had a significant decrease in income or increase in expenses. A modification may also be appropriate if the receiving party has increased their income to a point where they can be considered self-sufficient.
What is the Process to Modify Spousal Support in California?
To get a spousal support modification in California, you will need to file a request with the court. The process for a modification of spousal support in California is as follows:
- File a Request for Order (Form FL-300) with the court.
- Serve your spouse with a copy of the Request for Order. This can be done by mail or in person, depending on the court’s requirements.
- Attend a court hearing. The court will schedule a hearing to determine whether a modification of spousal support is warranted.
- Provide evidence to support your request for a modification. This may include financial information, such as pay stubs or tax returns, as well as evidence of any changes in circumstances that would justify a spousal support modification.
- The court will consider the evidence and make a decision on whether to grant the modification, the new amount and the duration of the spousal support.
It’s important to note that the court will only consider a modification if there has been a significant change in circumstances since the original order for spousal support was made, such as a change in income, health, or job status of either spouse.
Additionally, under California law, someone recently convicted of domestic abuse or sexual violence against their spouse cannot receive alimony. In most cases, someone recently convicted of a misdemeanor for a crime against their spouse will also not be able to receive spousal support.
Where Do Our Listed Attorneys Serve?
The spousal support attorneys listed on this page serve clients in Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Orange, Fullerton, Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, Buena Park, Tustin, Yorba Linda, Laguna Niguel, San Clemente, La Habra, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Brea, Ladera Ranch and all courts throughout Orange County and Southern California. If you need to establish or modify child support and want to talk to a lawyer to get your questions answered, call an attorney listed here today.
An Orange County Spousal Support Lawyer Can Help You Understand Your Rights
Whether you think you’ll pay or receive alimony, or need to make modifications to an existing spousal support order make sure you protect yourself at every turn. Discuss your options with an attorney from our list of Orange County spousal support law firms.
See More Attorneys
- https://www.orangecountylawyers.com/attorneys/law-offices-of-j-cha-associates/
- https://www.orangecountylawyers.com/attorneys/rm-law-group/
- https://www.orangecountylawyers.com/attorneys/the-blonska-firm-pc/
- https://www.orangecountylawyers.com/attorneys/law-offices-of-britt-zoolalian/
- https://www.orangecountylawyers.com/attorneys/law-offices-of-andrea-l-mersel/
- https://www.orangecountylawyers.com/attorneys/expedient-law-inc/
- https://www.orangecountylawyers.com/attorneys/the-law-offices-of-w-douglas-mckeague/
- https://www.orangecountylawyers.com/attorneys/sarieh-law-offices-alc/
- https://www.orangecountylawyers.com/attorneys/law-office-of-rhonda-ellifritz/
- https://www.orangecountylawyers.com/attorneys/law-office-of-elisabeth-donovan/
- https://www.orangecountylawyers.com/attorneys/law-office-of-david-p-schwarz/
- https://www.orangecountylawyers.com/attorneys/law-office-of-elisabeth-donovan/
- https://www.orangecountylawyers.com/attorneys/yanez-associates/
- https://www.orangecountylawyers.com/attorneys/the-law-office-of-peter-j-flanagan/
- https://www.orangecountylawyers.com/attorneys/von-esch-law-group/
Join our private
Facebook Group and
ask
local lawyers
a question
Join Our Newsletter
Stay up to date with our latest news and updates.
Join our private Facebook Group and
ask local lawyers a question
Contact Details
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ONLY 12900 Garden Grove Blvd #132, Garden Grove, CA 92843
(949) 518-0204
Disclaimer: This website is attorney advertising. The information provided on OrangeCountylawyers.com is not legal advice and OrangeCountylawyers.com is not a law firm or a lawyer referral service. No attorney-client or confidential relationship is formed by use of the site and form submissions made to attorney profiles are not confidential. The attorney listings on OrangeCountylawyers.com are paid and/or free attorney advertisements and do not in any way constitute a referral or endorsement by OrangeCountyLawyers.com, parent or affiliate companies, or any approved or authorized lawyer referral service. Your access of/to and use of this site is subject to additional Terms & Conditions. None of the content on this website constitutes a guarantee, warranty or prediction regarding the outcome of any legal matter.
Copyright © 2023 OrangeCountyLawyers.com
