Sound Advice About Alimony / Spousal Maintenance in Texas
It's the rare divorce case where both spouses have established and maintained approximately equal earning power throughout the length of the marriage. Because it's more common that one spouse has a higher income than the other, the financially weaker spouse will usually need some help with living expenses for a period of time. But how much and for how long?
For dependable advice and thoroughly committed client service in Texas spousal maintenance issues, contact the Law Offices of Wendy Wood. We offer free consultations, and with offices in Houston and Bryan, we represent clients on either side of spousal maintenance disputes in southeast Texas.
Different rules apply to spousal maintenance at different stages of the case
A court has very wide discretion about spousal support in the early stages of a divorce case. The main goal here is to award temporary spousal support for the period between the beginning of the case and the final decree that treats both parties fairly.
For the period following divorce, however, Texas spousal maintenance is neither as generous nor as flexible. Alimony awards are determined under guidelines, based on actual need, and in most cases will be limited to a maximum of three years. Permanent or indefinite alimony will usually be awarded only in long-term marriages under very restrictive circumstances.
What does your prenuptial agreement say about spousal maintenance?
The terms of a prenuptial agreement will usually affect alimony rights and obligations. If you and your spouse have a prenup in place, we can let you know just what it means for you and give you an idea of its enforceability in court. Our advice can help you make the right decision about challenging the prenuptial agreement terms, accepting its provisions, or negotiating a new compromise.
A negotiated spousal maintenance settlement should also consider the circumstances under which it can be modified or terminated. If the spouse receiving alimony remarries, the maintenance payments will come to an end, but what about cohabitation or a substantial inheritance?
You can count on us for advice tailored to your specific circumstances
We firmly believe that a divorce lawyer should work closely with you so that our advice is based not only on our legal knowledge, but also on the unique demands of your particular situation. To learn how our commitment to client service can help you with alimony issues, contact an experienced attorney at the Law Offices of Wendy Wood.
