Alimony

Navigating The Issue Of Spousal Maintenance For Clients

One of the most common concerns during divorce is whether someone will have to pay their former spouse alimony, which is made up of monthly payments that could continue for years after the divorce is final. While some Texas family law cases require one party to pay the other alimony, it is less than you might think, as judges require couples to meet certain criteria. If you’re worried about being ordered to pay alimony, also called spousal maintenance, you should talk to a skilled lawyer about your case. When you hire Kamal Law Firm, we can review the details of your divorce and let you know if you or your spouse might have to pay alimony. Call our Houston, Texas law office to get answers to questions about your divorce case.

Who Qualifies For Alimony In Texas?

The Texas legal system has strict requirements in place when it comes to who can receive alimony after divorce. First, the marriage must have lasted at least ten years. If this is the case, the judge will consider if the spouse requesting alimony can financially support themselves without their former spouse’s income If their assets and income are too low to meet their basic, and they are unlikely to be able to change that, they might be awarded alimony. For instance, if they are disabled or stay home to care for their disabled child, they may need to rely on alimony to pay their bills. However, if the spouse has the potential to earn more by finding a better-paying job or working more hours, they are unlikely to receive alimony.

Another way for a spouse to qualify for alimony is if they can prove their former spouse was convicted of family violence within the last two years. If their ex-spouse harmed them or their child during that period, they could receive alimony even if the marriage did not last ten years or more. Your alimony attorney will inform you if you qualify to receive or pay alimony based on these requirements.

How Much Will The Alimony Payments Be?

If alimony is ordered in the divorce case, the next step is determining how much to expect the payments to be. This is up to the judge to decide based on a variety of factors, including:

• The length of the marriage.
• Each spouse’s ability to afford their basic needs.
• Each spouse’s education level and job skills.
• The age, job history, health, and earning capacity of the spouse requesting alimony.
• Contributions of each spouse to the marriage, like managing the home and children while the other worked or studied.
• How long will it take a spouse to get training for employment and self-support.
• Reasons for divorce include adultery or cruelty by one spouse.

Once the judge takes these factors into account, they will assess the gross income of the spouse responsible for alimony. In this state, monthly alimony payments are limited to either $35,000 or 20 percent of the paying spouse’s monthly income, whichever amount is lower. If you have inquiries about what to expect for spousal maintenance, please reach out to our law office for an alimony attorney to evaluate your case.

Do You Have A Contested Or Uncontested Divorce?

If you and your spouse cannot agree on who should pay alimony or which parent the children should live with, you have a contested divorce. This means you have not reached an agreement outside of court and will need legal assistance to work out a compromise. In some cases, your divorce attorney can help you do this mediation with your spouse. If this doesn’t work, you will need to go to court and wait for the judge to make a decision for you.

On the other hand, if you and your spouse agree that divorce is the best choice and you are in agreement on all the legal matters involved, you might be able to obtain an uncontested divorce. This requires you to agree on how to split the marital property, who will pay alimony, and how often each parent will see the children, to name a few decisions. If you’re hoping for your divorce case to be over quickly, it’s imperative that you and your spouse agree on all legal issues in your case so you can get an uncontested divorce. This way, you could conclude the case shortly after the 60-day period. If you want to work toward an uncontested divorce that can be resolved within a few months, contact our law firm to speak with a skilled divorce attorney in Houston, TX.

Why Should You Hire A Divorce Attorney In Houston, TX.

If you’re certain that ending your marriage is the right choice, let us help you handle the legal complexities. At Kamal Law Firm, PLLC, we understand how overwhelming divorce can feel, from navigating legal requirements to completing intricate court paperwork. You deserve to focus on building an exciting future—not on the stress of legal procedures.

Whether your divorce is straightforward and uncontested or involves lengthy court proceedings, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Contact us at 713-524-4529 to discuss your Texas divorce case with a compassionate attorney who truly cares about achieving the outcome you deserve.

Your peace of mind matters to us, and we offer an initial consultation to help you feel confident about moving forward. Let us take the burden off your shoulders and guide you through this challenging time.