Alimony/Spousal Support

Fresno County Spousal Support Attorney

Society no longer calls for, nor do laws allow for, automatic spousal support/alimony. Spousal support is awarded strictly based on need and ability to pay. In addition, when support is awarded, it is not a permanent award that should last forever. When changes arise within the personal or financial circumstances of the individuals involved, the law firm of Marcus A. Torigian, Attorney at Law, is able to provide experienced advice and counsel to request a modification in spousal support orders.

Contact me to schedule an appointment with a skilled and understanding family law attorney.

Spousal Support Laws and Considerations

Spousal support/alimony calculations are based on the marital standard of living. This means that following a divorce or separation, couples should be able to continue living a comparable financial standard of life. Therefore, if support is awarded, it will generally be awarded to the person with a lower income and in an amount that compensates for the difference. However, other significant factors, such as need, ability to work, may influence these guidelines, including:

• Duration of the marriage
• Age and health of the spouses
• Marital assets and debts
• Ability of the supporting spouse to pay
• Employability of the spouse with custody of the children
• Contribution of one spouse to the other's career
• Goal to become self-supporting
• Domestic violence history

It is important to remember that awarding spousal support isn't mandatory or automatic in California. Courts maintain wide discretion under the law to limit support amounts and durations, or to deny awarding any alimony at all.

Contact Attorney Marcus Torigian

From understanding tax deductions and related tax consequences, to modifications to spousal support payments as your economic circumstances change moving forward, my experience and counsel can help you keep alimony arrangements in a divorce settlement from turning a benefit into a burden.

I understand that personal and financial circumstances are bound to change within a family. As an experienced family law attorney, I have thorough knowledge of California spousal support laws and I am able to apply these laws to your individual situation. For a consultation with an experienced spousal support lawyer, contact me today.