If you’re getting a divorce in California, a judge may order you or your spouse to pay alimony, also known as spousal support. Whether you’re attempting to come to an agreement regarding spousal support with your soon-to-be ex or you’re concerned a judge will make the wrong decision when issuing a spousal support order, hiring a lawyer with experience handling such matters is critical at this time. At the Law Offices of Teresa A. Beyers, a Glendale spousal support attorney is on hand to provide the assistance you need.
Types of Spousal Support in California
Spousal support comes in these forms in California:
Temporary Spousal Support
A judge may order the more financially stable spouse to pay temporary spousal support before a divorce has been finalized. This ensures the spouse who earns less money can tend to their needs throughout the divorce process. Once a divorce is finalized, temporary spousal support may shift to permanent or rehabilitative spousal support.
Rehabilitative Spousal Support
This is the type of spousal support most commonly paid in California. If one spouse was a family’s primary breadwinner, they may be ordered to pay rehabilitative spousal support for a period of time after a divorce so that their ex has time to acquire the skills or education necessary for them to find gainful employment.
It is up to a judge to determine how long rehabilitative spousal support should last. If the party receiving rehabilitative spousal support remarries, they will typically no longer be eligible to receive alimony payments.
Permanent Spousal Support
It’s rare for judges to order permanent spousal support in California unless a marriage lasted at least 10 years. If a marriage did last at least a decade, a judge may order the more financially secure spouse to pay permanent spousal support.
A judge is more likely to issue an order for permanent spousal support if factors such as age or illness will limit the ability of the lower-earning spouse to enter the workforce.
Reimbursement Spousal Support
Sometimes, one spouse will support the other while they get an education or receive training to prepare them for a career. For example, someone might support a spouse while they get a law degree.
The spouse providing support in these circumstances should financially benefit from doing so in the long run, as the spouse receiving support will theoretically use their degree or qualifications to eventually pursue a career and earn more money for the couple. If a marriage ends, the spouse who received support while getting an education or undergoing career preparation/training may be ordered to pay spousal support to reimburse the spouse who shouldered a financial burden with the expectation of an eventual financial benefit.
Factors Influencing Glendale Spousal Support Orders
A judge will account for various factors when determining what type of spousal support order to issue, how long spousal support should last, etc. They include (but aren’t necessarily limited to) the following:
- Disparity in income
- How long a marriage lasted
- The health and age of each spouse
- The lifestyle to which each spouse had grown accustomed during a marriage
- Sacrifices either spouse made (such as sacrificing a career in order to raise children, supporting their spouse while they pursued a career, etc.)
- Education, qualifications, and general earning capacity of each spouse
Contact a Glendale Spousal Support Attorney
Spousal support is one of the more complex elements of a divorce. Glendale spousal support attorney Teresa A. Beyers can assist you in navigating these matters. Our team is also available to help with spousal support modifications, termination, and enforcement. Learn more by contacting the firm online or calling 213-236-4400.