The Woodlands Spousal Support Lawyer

Spousal Support Attorney In The Woodlands, TX

Experiencing a divorce or separation is never an easy task. It can be emotionally challenging and can even place a significant drain on your finances. Spousal support, also known as alimony, is a financial payment made by one spouse to another in cases of divorce or separation. For lower-earning spouses, this payment can be crucial for them to be able to provide for themselves once a divorce is finalized, and our The Woodlands spousal support lawyer team can help.

At the Walke-Wilson Firm, our team of family law and divorce attorneys is proud to offer services to residents of The Woodlands and surrounding areas. Texas laws that guide alimony decisions can be complicated, but with our experience and knowledge, we can guide you through every step of the legal process, whether you are the spouse requesting alimony or the spouse who is being asked to pay. With over three decades of experience, we are here to help.

The team at the Walke-Wilson Firm is committed to ensuring each and every one of our clients receives firm and fair advocacy and representation. Should your alimony case proceed to a court trial, we can represent you in court and fiercely argue your case before a judge, presenting clear evidence that supports your side of the story. We are also here to help navigate whatever else your divorce might entail, including child support, child custody, and division of property.

Kinds of Spousal Support Available in Texas

In Texas, spousal support, which may also be referred to as spousal maintenance or alimony, is a contract ordering one spouse to financially support the other spouse after they separate or divorce. This financial support is obtained by the receiving spouse in order to help them if they earn a lower income or are financially dependent. It can help them, following a divorce or separation, to maintain a similar standard of living to what they were used to.

Spousal support can help ensure that moving from married life and the things you are used to in that scenario into independence is fair, especially in cases where one spouse sacrificed their own education or career in order to care for the marital home or children. In Texas, there are several types of spousal support. These include the following:

• Temporary spousal support, otherwise known as pendente lite support, is sometimes awarded while the divorce process is ongoing. This support works to offer financial stability to the spouse with a lower-earning level and can help them cover their daily expenses and the legal fees involved in their divorce settlement. This kind of support typically ends once the court has finalized the divorce.
• Permanent spousal support. This type of support is less common than its temporary counterpart and is typically only awarded in cases of long-term marriages or in situations where the receiving spouse is suffering a serious health condition, an incapacitating disability, or has a limited work history. This kind of support only ends once either spouse has passed away or if the individual receiving support remarries.
• Rehabilitative spousal support. This kind of spousal support is common in situations where the receiving spouse needs more time in order to become independent and self-sustaining. For example, if a spouse needs to seek further education in order to become self-sufficient, the courts can order this kind of support to allow them to cover their expenses until they can become financially independent through their own means.
• Lump-sum spousal support. In some cases, instead of seeking an ongoing monthly payment of support, alimony can be awarded through a one-time lump sum. This method can be beneficial for spouses who are seeking both their own financial independence and also closure from their divorce. A spousal support lawyer can help review your case and evaluate whether or not a lump-sum support order would benefit your situation.

What Factors Influence Spousal Support?

In a spousal support case, when the parties involved cannot reach an agreement on their own, they must look to a judge to make this determination for them. When making this determination on both the length and amount of an alimony award, the judge will consider the following factors:

• Marriage length. In most cases, the longer your marriage, the higher your chances of receiving support and the higher the amount. Courts may be more apt to award alimony for marriages exceeding a decade as these kinds of relationships often create financially dependent spouses and commingled financial situations.
• Standard of living. A Texas court will aim to ensure that both spouses maintain a similar standard of living as what they were used to in their marriage after their divorce. A spousal support lawyer can help demonstrate your lifestyle in marriage and can help you secure the necessary support amounts based on the standard of living you had in your marriage.
• Disparities in income. A court will most likely consider the difference in income when it comes to you and your spouse to ensure that support is awarded if one spouse should suffer a higher degree of financial difficulty. Your attorney from the Walke-Wilson Firm can provide the courts with evidence of these differences in income to support and highlight your need for alimony payments.
• Job skills and education. If you have a smaller degree of education or outdated job qualifications, you may be able to seek spousal support in order to fund necessary job training or education as needed to re-enter the workforce. We can argue for your need for rehabilitative support so that you can gain the skills needed to regain financial independence.
• Age and health. The age and health of both spouses can significantly impact an alimony case. If you are older or disabled, you may be eligible for more long-term support. At the Walke-Wilson Firm, we can provide evidence of your health conditions in order to secure higher amounts of support.

Speak With a Spousal Support Attorney Serving The Woodlands and the Surrounding Areas

When it comes to your financial security, you need to place your trust in the Walke-Wilson Firm. Don’t wait until it is too late to seek spousal support. With so much at stake, you need to seek this support now. Trust the team at the Walke-Wilson Firm to advocate for your needs and secure this alimony on your behalf. Contact our offices today for more information and to schedule an initial consultation.