Will you have to pay spousal support in your North County or Carlsbad divorce? Many factors must be considered during spousal support negotiations, mediation or litigation. There is no finite spousal support computation under California law as one would find for child support.
However, California’s family law code does specify several “factors” which must be considered including but not limited to:
- The length of the underlying marriage
- The age and health of the parties
- The marketable skills and likelihood of employment
- The contribution of one spouse to the completion of education or an advanced degree or license for the other party
- The standard of living enjoyed by the couple during the course of their marriage
The general objective of spousal support is to level the financial playing field between the parties and to provide the opportunity to have time to gain meaningful employment.
Temporary spousal support orders may be issued early in the process to provide support to one party while the divorce proceedings are completed. Permanent spousal support orders are usually issued as part of the final decree or established through negotiation or mediation and specified in the marital settlement agreement.
Spousal support is not usually going to last for the rest of one’s life unless the marriage lasted for a substantial period of time. The Court will often issue a “Gavron Warning” which provides a specific time frame for the recipient to become self-sustaining.
If the income and financial resources of one spouse are significantly different than the other party spousal support will usually be ordered to balance the equation. This is a highly contested area of family law and you should seek the advice and counsel of the experienced Certified Family Law Specialists at Burke & Domercq.
If you are concerned about whether or not you will have to pay spousal support in your North County or Carlsbad divorce we invite you to review the recommendations of our clients and contact us or call 760-389-3927 to schedule an appointment. We will review the unique circumstances surrounding your case and provide sound counsel and advice.