Spousal Support

Duration and Amount are the two main concerns involved with spousal support. They are the concerns of the spouse receiving and the spouse paying, as well as the legal system.

While the length of time it will take a spouse to become self-supporting is certainly a factor for consideration by California courts, the length of the marriage is a significant barometer in determining how long spousal support should last. Generally, a short marriage equates to shorter duration of spousal support than a long marriage. Duration of spousal support is left to the discretion of the courts, and the courts base their decisions on California statutes and case decisions. Our family law attorneys can explain how the system works and what to expect as fair and just, based on your particular situation.

Similar to duration of spousal support, amounts paid for spousal support are also left to the discretion of the court. For “Temporary Support” available during the pendency of the marital action, the goal of spousal support is to maintain the “status quo” for both parties, to the extent there is income or assets available. For so called “Long Term Support” available after the termination of the marriage, numerous factors are weighed into and evaluated in order to arrive at the amount to be paid: the length of the marriage, the age and health of the spouses, standard of living, obligations and assets, tax consequences, balance of hardships, marketable skills, the job market, support provided toward a spouse’s education, earning capacity and ability to pay along with history of criminal conviction and domestic violence abuse.

Our attorneys at Paula S. Teske and Associates are very experienced and knowledgeable in spousal support issues and can assist you through representation or litigation. To discuss spousal support, please send us an email or phone our office at 310-391-6800. We will be happy to arrange a consultation.