St. Petersburg Spousal Support and Alimony Lawyer
Spousal support: It’s an important factor for many divorcees, especially for individuals struggling to figure out how to support themselves following a divorce. If you’re in need of spousal support, it’s important that you work with a qualified attorney to help ensure that you get the funds you need. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an associate, and learn what Khonsari Law can do to ensure a divorce settlement that is fair, productive, and most importantly, properly equips you for the next stage in your life.
Our Results
Khonsari Law has obtained spousal support for numerous clients. Our results have enabled clients to live their lives while preparing for the future, obtained funds to help complete an education, and payment for bills, including house payments and car payments, while the dependent spouse gets back on their feet. Our dedicated attorneys are committed to ensuring that a fair, equitable arrangement is made that will allow our clients to move forward with their lives without having to panic over finances.
What Does Spousal Support Cover?
Spousal support, or alimony, is intended for individuals who were entirely or primarily financially supported by their spouse throughout their marriage, and who don’t have the means to provide for themselves immediately following a divorce. In many cases, these individuals have chosen to give up their own chances at a career in order to care for their homes and families, contributing to their homes while their spouses built a career in the workplace. After a divorce, these individuals often lack the connections, experience, and education necessary to further their career opportunities. As a result, their partner may be obligated to help provide support payments while the dependent spouse transitions.
Who Is Responsible for Paying Spousal Support?
Spousal support is typically paid by divorcing individuals who have been married for several years, and who have relied on their former spouse to care for their home and family. When one spouse has been the primary breadwinner for several years, and the other spouse has chosen to dedicate their time to home or children with the expectation that they will be provided for, divorce doesn’t automatically end that obligation. Alimony payments typically continue for a predetermined period of time according to the terms of the divorce agreement—often long enough for the spouse who is receiving payment to pursue a degree or career certifications and begin to settle into a new position. Spousal support agreements can also be terminated if the spouse receiving payment chooses to remarry before the terms of the agreement are met. In general, most alimony arrangements are not indefinite; they are usually clearly defined to allow the supported spouse a period of time to develop the means to provide for themselves, rather than being intended as an indefinite source of income.
What Does Spousal Support Include?
Spousal support payments are designed to help cover the living expenses of a spouse who has taken care of the home and family throughout several years of the marriage. They may be based on a percentage of the working spouse’s income, or on specific expenses: the cost of maintaining the home, car payments, educational expenses, and more. Spousal support is usually based on the income expected throughout the marriage, and is not intended to leave the paying spouse unable to pay their own bills. In some cases, education expenses or other fees may be based on a lump sum amount; in other cases, you may be able to negotiate payment of specific items, including books, classroom materials, necessary technology, and more. Working with a lawyer is one of the most effective ways to ensure that you haven’t missed out on any important details, and that there are no loopholes in your agreement that your former spouse can use to get out of paying.
How Do Former Spouses Try to Get out of Paying Spousal Support?
Many individuals, knowing that spousal support is an area of concern, will do their best to try to avoid paying it. They’ll look for instances of infidelity or wrongdoing, or claim that it was the other spouse who initiated the dissolution of their marriage. Most divorcing couples will find spousal support a serious point of contention. The spouse who has stayed at home, without working, may require support. The spouse who was working rarely wants to give the former spouse anything. In some cases, the other spouse may even choose to decrease their income or to misrepresent their earnings in an effort to avoid paying spousal support.
How Much Will a Lawyer Cost Me?
If you are in need of spousal support from a former spouse, chances are you’re worried about the potential cost of a lawyer. How are you supposed to pay legal fees when you can’t even pay your bills? Thankfully, our associates understand the financial pressure involved in divorce: Consultations with our associates are always free, and our office can work with you to create a billing arrangement that accommodates your financial position. If you’re struggling to receive spousal support following a divorce, you don’t have to go through the process alone. Contact us today at (727) 269-5300 to schedule your free consultation, or to learn more about how we can help you recover the funds you need. You’ve dedicated years of support to your spouse. Now, it’s their turn to support you—and we’re here to ensure that you get the support you’re due.