Spousal support – awarded by Seattle divorce court judge depending on your individual case factors, it is previously referred to as “alimony.” Despite the common misconception that spousal support laws are assigned as punishments to a losing party, Seattle support laws are purely based on specific needs deemed appropriate in each case. Spousal support laws in Seattle are designed to assign or deny support based on certain factors that may include:
- Each party’s financial means.
- Each partner’s work experience and earning prospects – including the time. that one spouse may require to go through job training, seek employment and become self-supporting.
- The age, physical condition and emotional state of each spouse.
- How long the marriage lasted.
- The standard of living that was established during the marriage.
How do spousal support laws in Seattle work?
Given the variety of case specifics handled by the courts, there is no determining formula that would specifically determine the appropriate amount of support needed by the ex-spouse; rather, the courts will use a variety of fact-based considerations. Given that Washington State is a community property state, the Washington State Spousal Support statute offers general guidelines for the courts and actual case law will see much variation. In the case that one of the spouses is in need of financial support after leaving the marriage and the other spouse has the means to provide it, the court has the ability to grant a spousal support agreement.
Spousal maintenance Seattle lawyers who care about your future.
Property Division
Property value, after it is divided is one of the main determining factors for the amount and duration of the spousal support assigned by the court. In other words, after property is divided in half, your experienced Seattle divorce lawyer will need to represent you and argue your case so that your needs are met accurately.
Call a spousal support lawyer today.
To learn more about spousal maintenance laws in Seattle WA, please call our spousal support attorneys in Seattle at (206) 686-3279 or fill out or online contact form. We are happy to answer any of your questions.
The Law Offices of Jason S. Newcombe: Our divorce and family law attorneys have decades of combined experience successfully resolving hundreds of complex and emotional cases throughout Western Washington.