When your marriage comes to an end in California, there are times when one spouse may owe support to the other. This could take the form of temporary or permanent support depending on things like the length of the marriage and the earning discrepancy between the parties.
Decisions made on spousal support can profoundly impact the finances of both the spouse paying support and the one who should receive it. You need a skilled San Diego spousal support attorney who can help you to fight for fair outcomes so you have the money you need to move forward after your marriage ends.
Contreras Law Firm can help. With decades of experience representing clients in spousal support disputes, we bring our extensive legal knowledge, as well as our compassion, to every case. Give us a call today at (619) 238-0616 to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can work with you to secure your financial future.
Why Contreras Law Firm is the Firm to Turn to In Your Spousal Support Case
After helping clients successfully resolve hundreds of spousal support claims, Contreras Law Firm has become the clear choice when you need help with alimony issues. Here are some of the reasons why San Diego spousal support attorneys at our firm are the best representatives for these claims:
- We have an unparalleled understanding of California Code Sections 4320 – 4326 which guides the court in determining appropriate support and we can make a compelling argument for these factors to be applied in your favor
- We care about every client and deeply understand the impact a support decision can have on your financial stability
- We successfully help many clients resolve alimony issues through negotiation, arbitration, or mediation to avoid the stress of court proceedings
- We are prepared to go to trial and have litigated many alimony cases, including with high net-worth individuals and in complex circumstances such as cases involving hidden income or assets
Spousal Support In California
Sometimes referred to as alimony, California provides for spousal support under state law. Spousal support may either be temporary or permanent. Temporary support is ordered while a divorce is pending so that the supported party has some support while throughout the case until permanent spousal support is ordered. Temporary spousal support is generally based on the parties’ income and takes into consideration certain expenses. Permanent spousal support is based on a list of factors including, but not limited to:
- Length of marriage
- Standard of living during marriage
- Education or career of both spouses
Spousal support is enforced to ensure that both spouses are able to maintain a suitable standard of living after a divorce and typically bridges the gap between the divorce and the length of time it takes the recipient spouse to find employment.
The typical presumption is that, for a marriage under 10 years, one spouse will pay the other spousal support for one-half of the length of the marriage. There is no time limit for the length of time one spouse pays spousal support for a marriage over 10 years.
How Contreras Law Firm Can Get You the Spousal Support Order You Deserve
Contreras Law Firm can offer comprehensive support and advice whenever you are involved in an alimony dispute. Some of the ways in which we can help include:
- Working with you to negotiate a spousal support order outside of court. Agreeing on this issue (and other matters involved in your divorce) allows you to pursue an uncontested divorce. This can be cheaper and have better outcomes.
- Arguing for your preferred support order in divorce proceedings. Courts consider many factors including the earning capacity of each spouse, the marketable skills of the spouse seeking support, and the contributions the supported spouse made to the earning capacity of the paying spouse. We’ll provide evidence to convince the court these factors support your preferred alimony amount.
- Helping you to get support orders modified. When there is a material change in circumstances, an existing support order may need to be modified.
- Explaining your rights. You need to understand the rules for temporary and permanent support so you have reasonable expectations going into your case and can plan for your future.
- Navigating complex cases. In some circumstances, such as when there is a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement that you don’t want to be enforced, alimony cases can become very complicated. Our firm can handle these complex situations with ease.
Contact a San Diego Spousal Support Attorney Today
When one spouse outearns the other, alimony can be crucial to help the lower-earner to get back on their feet or to maintain the same standard of living they enjoyed during the marriage.
On the other hand, a higher-earning spouse also needs to make sure they are being treated fairly so their own finances aren’t impacted — especially when they’re being asked to pay both child and spousal support.
Contreras Law Firm represents both parties seeking support and those asked to pay it. We focus on the role alimony will play in your future life, as well as on helping you to get through your divorce as quickly and cost-effectively as possible while getting the best outcome. Give us a call today at (619) 238-0616 or contact us online to find out how we can bring your unique approach to family law claims to work on your alimony case.