When a married couple decides to dissolve their marriage through divorce or to obtain a legal separation, a court may order one spouse to make payments to the other if certain financial circumstances exist. Traditionally referred to as “alimony,” the modern terms for such payments are “spousal support” or “spousal maintenance.” These arrangements can have a significant impact on the financial well-being of both parties, particularly when there are substantial assets involved. Courts have a significant amount of discretion in deciding whether to award maintenance, so it is important for anyone who is either seeking maintenance or attempting to persuade the court to not award maintenance to discuss their case with a Washington State family law attorney at the Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess.

Factors considered in a maintenance award

Spousal maintenance is not awarded or denied because of any sort of marital misconduct, but rather is based purely on financial and economic factors. The Washington statute authorizes a court to award maintenance in any amount and in any duration that it deems just and lists some of the factors the court may consider when making a spousal support determination. These include:

• The financial resources of the spouse who is requesting maintenance, including any division of community property or child support received that is apportioned for his or her use.
• The amount of time it would take the party seeking maintenance to obtain enough training or education in order to find employment appropriate to his or her particular circumstances.
• The standard of living established while the couple was together.
• The length of the relationship.
• The age, physical and emotional condition, and financial obligations of the party seeking maintenance.
• The ability of the party not seeking maintenance to pay.

The court may consider other factors as well, so it is important for anyone involved in a maintenance dispute to present the strongest evidence they can in support of their position. An attorney will be able to evaluate your circumstances and help make your case to the court in a way that maximizes your chances of obtaining a favorable result.

Contact our Seattle and Tacoma spousal maintenance and alimony lawyers to schedule a consultation

Whether you are seeking maintenance or arguing against it, you should have an experienced attorney in your corner.