In Texas, when one spouse in a divorce case requests spousal support (also known as alimony), the court can make a ruling on the appropriate level of support or the parties can come to an agreement on their own. It is critical to have an attorney in this process.
At The Law Office of Goodman and Cowan, P.C., Rockwall attorney Cameron Cowan can guide you through the process to effectively advocate for your best interests. Contact our law firm in Rockwall today for sound legal advice and a free initial consultation.
If you are working out a spousal maintenance agreement cooperatively with your spouse, you want to ensure that all current and future expenses along with several other factors should be included in your calculations. Without substantial changes in circumstance, it is very difficult to convince a court to hear issues concerning a spousal support agreement in which you agreed to in the past.
Court Rulings on Spousal Support
If the court is requested to rule on the matter, the judge will consider a number of factors on a case-by-case basis, including:
- Financial resources and property of both spouses
- Education and job training of both spouses
- Length of the marriage
- Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
- Age, employment history, earning power and health of spouse seeking support
- Ability of other spouse to make support payments to requesting spouse
- Distribution of marital property
- Premarital property
- Contribution by either spouse to education or earning power of the other
- Contributions of the homemaker
- Any marital misconduct or domestic violence
Changes to the Texas Spousal Support Law
On September 1, 2011, the Texas Legislature's overhaul of the spousal support law took effect. The spouse requesting spousal support no longer needs to seek employment counseling. Under the new law, the requesting spouse does not need to prove that he or she cannot support himself or herself through appropriate employment. The court must decide upon whether the requesting spouse can sufficiently provide for his or her minimum reasonable needs.
Limits on the amount and duration of payments have also been increased. It is important to seek the advice of an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer to determine how the law affects your case and your goals.
Contact Our Rowlett and Garland Spousal Support Attorney
We care about your resolution to difficult family law matters and guide you through the process with care. Contact The Law Office of Goodman and Cowan, P.C., for a free initial consultation with a Rockwall alimony attorney. We serve clients in Rockwall County, Kaufman County, Dallas County, surrounding counties and in the Austin area.
