Fighting For The Fair Spousal Support Arrangements Our Clients Deserve

When a couple decides to separate or divorce, one spouse may be eligible to receive financial support from the other in the form of spousal support or spousal maintenance, which was also previously known as alimony. Spousal support is different from child support. Child support is mandatory and spousal support is not a guaranteed part of a divorce arrangement. The two parties can reach or try to reach a mutual agreement about this subject or one side may choose to have spousal support be awarded through an order of the court.

At Patrick M. Noe, Jr., Attorney at Law., in Amherst, also serving Buffalo and all of western New York state, we are proud of the legal knowledge and sensitivity we bring to divorce actions involving spousal support matters. Call us at 716-803-8741 today to arrange for a phone consultation with our experienced, compassionate and aggressive family lawyer.

Correctly Calculating And Effectively Petitioning For Alimony

Ideally, the purpose of spousal support is to allow a lower income spouse to become self-sustaining after the termination of the marriage. Parties, and the courts, use different factors when negotiating and deciding what type of alimony should be awarded and how long the duration should last, including:

• The age and health of each spouse
• The standard of living established during the course of the marriage and the current needs of each spouse
• Helping the spouse applying for support achieve self-sustainability

In many cases, one spouse’s earning capacity may have changed because of periods of unemployment during the marriage that were devoted to domestic duties, child rearing or other reasons that both parties were in agreement about at the time. These periods may hinder a supported spouse’s ability to quickly attain self-sustainability upon a divorce or separation at the level he or she is accustomed to or may need for the household. Spousal support can be used to help create time for marketable skills for employment to be developed, including acquiring additional education, training or a professional license.

We Stay Current With The Law

It is also important to note that spousal support has undergone many changes since it was first introduced as alimony under New York law. Today, parties can apply for different types of spousal support and maintenance such as temporary and rehabilitative, and parties can negotiate how long spousal support will last, when terms of a prenuptial agreement surrounding spousal support should be enforced or challenged, and under what terms support should cease.

Our divorce attorney takes all of these factors into account when negotiating or litigating a spousal support application.

Let Our Experience Be Your Guide

Our experience helps us navigate all of the factors that are considered in determining the appropriateness and level of spousal support. That experience can be essential to securing a positive outcome for you. Call 716-803-8741 or contact us online to learn more about how we can help you secure a fair spousal support arrangement.