SPOUSAL SUPPORT

Unlike child support there is no formula to establish the amount of spousal support that would be paid by one of the parties. A judge will weigh the income and expenses of both parties and determine the need of one party to receive support and the ability of the other party to pay support. I gave a seminar attended by attorneys and judicial officers and spousal support. Before the seminar I talked to a judicial officer that I had known for a number of years and stated that “the problem with spousal support is that the judges have broad discretion”. The judicial officer stated “let me correct you, the judge has very broad discretion”. Support that is ordered prior to a full trial of the case is called temporary support. There is a formula to establish a suggested temporary support amount, however, it is not mandatory that the judge follows the formula. It is very important that you have ban experienced family law attorney who is familiar with the laws for spousal support.