Same Sex Alimony Lawyer in Ventura

Spousal Support Lawyers for LGBT Divorces in California

Alimony is designed to give a divorced spouse ongoing support. Alimony would be used after a divorce, traditionally, when one spouse worked to support the family and the other was the homemaker or took care of the children. In many marriages in California, this is not how the family structure works. More and more often, both spouses work, and there might not even be children. Regardless, alimony may still be available in many divorces. When determining whether spousal support is appropriate, courts look at the following factors:

• Whether each party can continue the standard of living they were accustomed to during the marriage;
• Each party’s marketable job skills;
• Whether a party is less likely to get a job because of the time they did not work to focus on domestic duties;
• Whether one party helped pay for a professional license for the other;
• The party’s ability to pay spousal support;
• Each party’s needs (based on the accustomed standard of living);
• Each party’s obligations and assets;
• The length of the marriage;
• The ability to work while raising kids (if there are kids involved);
• Each party’s age and health;
• Domestic violence history;
• The tax consequences of alimony;
• The parties’ balance of hardships;
• The supported party’s ability to get back on their own feet within a time equal to half the marriage’s length;
• Any criminal convictions for abuse; and
• “Any other factors the court determines are just and equitable.”

These factors may have different weights for different judges, but may help you understand the kinds of things courts look at. Courts would prefer not to order alimony, and would rather see the supported party working and supporting him or herself. However, courts are willing to award alimony payments to spouses who need time to get job training, have significant hardships, or were accustomed to a high standard of living. It is also important to keep in mind that these factors are not the only factors courts look at. Because they can take “other factors” into account, your lawyer may be able to argue for increased or decreased alimony payments based on the specifics of your case.