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Working To Secure A Fair Spousal Maintenance Agreement

Divorce often has a significant impact on your finances. One of the most important issues relating to your finances is the issue of spousal maintenance. Spousal maintenance, also known as alimony, is a court-ordered award to one former spouse from another in a divorce. Courts have discretion in deciding whether to make an award of spousal maintenance. As a result, your choice of lawyer can make a real difference in whether you achieve your financial goals.

How Alimony Is Determined

If you and your spouse cannot agree on spousal maintenance terms, the court will weigh a number of factors in deciding whether to award spousal maintenance. These factors include:

  • Income, potential income and other financial resources of both parties
  • Length of the marriage
  • Lifestyle led during the marriage
  • The health of the parties
  • Level of education completed
  • Work experience
  • Career sacrifice by one spouse to support the other

Depending on the circumstances, spousal maintenance can be awarded on a permanent or temporary basis. If you are paying or receiving spousal maintenance in the years following your divorce and need to modify your arrangements based on a substantial change of circumstances, our law firm is able to accomplish your goals as well.

If you are facing divorce and have questions or concerns about spousal maintenance, the family law firm of Jensen Law Offices is here for you. Based in Edina, we serve clients across the Twin Cities and across the surrounding areas of Minnesota, and help answer some of their more difficult questions, such as:

What can qualify for a spousal maintenance change?

If the factors determining your current spousal maintenance order drastically change, it may convince a court to change the order. Common examples of what causes these changes include a spouse losing their job, gaining a significant raise or getting remarried. These changes are not automatic, so you will need to be sure that you are pursuing any modifications as they become necessary.

How long does spousal maintenance typically last?

Depending on the difference in income between each spouse and how long they were married, spousal maintenance can last anywhere between a few months or a lifetime. Even if a spouse does secure a permanent maintenance decree, there are factors that can end it. If either spouse should pass on, or the spouse receiving payments should remarry, the permanent payments will end.

Do I qualify for spousal maintenance?

Either spouse has the right to apply for spousal support, but both of them will not receive it. When a court looks at the factors listed above, they will determine if either spouse qualifies for spousal maintenance, how much they will receive and how long they will receive those payments for. Every case is unique, and we can help you make your side of things clear before a judge so they have the information necessary to come to the decision you deserve.

Take The First Step Toward Securing Your Financial Future Today

Our lawyers have more than 35 years of legal experience fully dedicated to family law. We are able to give you a realistic assessment of how your goals will be viewed by a judge. We use extensive legal knowledge and client commitment to formulate common sense solutions for your spousal support issues.

The sooner you reach out to our law firm, the sooner you can begin getting the help you need to secure the ideal outcome in your divorce. When a divorce can feel like a battle, make sure you have someone on your side to defend your best interests. Contact our law firm at 952-893-5532 or via our online contact form to get started.