Spousal Support

Pasadena Spousal Support Attorney

Financial hardship should not accompany your divorce. At the Law Offices of Randy W. Medina, APLC, in Los Angeles County, we help to maintain the financial status quo using the marital standard of living as the springboard in determining temporary and permanent spousal support.

Calculating Temporary Spousal Support

Immediately after a separation, we can help determine the amount of temporary spousal support. The amount should serve to stabilize the financial situation for a spouse who may have chosen to raise children and not work. With divorce being a lengthy process, California law does allow for temporary orders pending final disposition of the divorce. Similar to child support, there is a formula to follow. Income combines with expenses to produce a final amount. Income and expense data must be accurate and complete disclosure is required.

Determining Permanent Spousal Support

Permanent spousal support ensures that both spouses maintain the marital standard of living following the divorce. The term "permanent" is misleading as it is does not mean permanent in the true sense of the word. Rather permanent spousal support is a term of art meaning the support established at time of trial or settlement. The duration of the obligation to pay spousal support can be open-ended or include a termination date. The spouse receiving the support must become self-sufficient within a reasonable period of time. In a marriage of ten years or less a reasonable period of time is one-half the length of the marriage. Statutory factors are weighed in the determination of spousal support. Vocational examiners may be retained to evaluate the present and future earning capacity of the spouse receiving support.

The Importance of Mediation in Spousal Support Disputes

At the Law Offices of Randy W. Medina, APLC, we recognize that money disputes can cause a simple divorce to deteriorate into expensive, drawn-out litigation. With a Certified Family Law Specialist and a trained and experienced mediator at the helm of our firm, we believe that mediation is the best option when it comes to divorce and the issues related to it, particularly spousal support.

Contact Us

To find out more information or to schedule an appointment with an experienced lawyer regarding permanent or temporary spousal support, please contact us.