Spousal Support Attorneys in Irvine

Helping Clients across Orange County Resolve Their Alimony Issues

At The Neshanian Law Firm, Inc, Attorney Amy Neshanian has been successfully resolving spousal support disputes on behalf of clients for nearly 20 years. She is a Certified Family Law Specialist by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, and she is one of the region’s most respected lawyers. She fights vigorously to obtain fair and just results on behalf of her clients.

If you are getting divorced and have questions about whether or not you are entitled to receive spousal support or will be obligated to pay it, we can help. Dedicated to providing personalized legal counsel and client representation, we return all emails and telephone calls in a timely manner, and we will always keep you updated regarding the progress of your case.

Contact Irvine spousal support attorney Amy Neshanian at (949) 577-7935 to make an appointment for an honest, up-front legal analysis of your case.

Spousal Support Laws

Also known as alimony, spousal support is not automatically ordered by the court. If the parties cannot reach an agreement regarding spousal support, family court judges have discretion as to whether or not alimony will be awarded during divorce proceedings.

A highly effective negotiator, Attorney Amy Neshanian can work with you and opposing counsel to resolve your spousal support dispute by engaging in settlement negotiations. If negotiations fail to provide an acceptable outcome, we possess extensive courtroom experience and can utilize our skills as seasoned litigators to pursue the most favorable results possible.

Prior to the issuance of the final divorce decree, the court may order the temporary payment of spousal support, allowing the supported spouse to maintain the status quo and continue to meet their needs, pending final judgment of divorce. When issuing a temporary support order, the court will thoroughly review the financial needs of each party.

Before entering a permanent order for spousal support, the court will examine several factors, including:

• The ability of the obligor spouse to pay
• The employability of the supported spouse
• The health and age of the parties
• Any history of domestic violence
• The length of the marriage
• The extent to which one spouse supported the other during the marriage
• The level of each party’s education
• The marital standard of living
• Each party’s earning ability

Since judges are provided with a considerable amount of leeway when setting a spousal support order, it is crucial that you retain a lawyer who is familiar with these statutory guideline factors.

When ordered, the period of time for which spousal support must be paid will generally be based on the length of the marriage. If the marriage is considered to be of a short duration (less than 10 years), the payor spouse will generally only be required to pay spousal support for a length of time ranging between half the term of the marriage and for the number of years the marriage lasted. With respect to long-term marriages (those lasting for more than 10 years), spousal support may be due and payable until the recipient either remarries or passes away.

As with child support, visitation, and custody, spousal support orders may be modified upon a demonstration of a change in circumstances sufficient to warrant modification of the order.

A change in circumstances may include:

• Death
• Disability
• Illness
• Increase or decrease in pay
• Job layoff
• Retirement
• Remarriage of the supported spouse

Spousal support will not be ordered in an amount that allows the supported spouse to live beyond the marital standard of living.

Call Our Irvine Spousal Support Attorneys for a Consultation

Please contact The Neshanian Law Firm, Inc to obtain information about whether support will be ordered in your case. For immediate assistance, call us today and we can set up an appointment for you to come in for an honest, in-depth legal consultation.

Centrally located in Irvine, The Neshanian Law Firm, Inc. provides knowledgeable legal representation to individuals who reside throughout Orange County. Call (949) 577-7935.