Spousal support, commonly known as “alimony,” refers to a legal agreement by which one spouse provides financial assistance to the other after their divorce. It’s intended to help a lower-earning spouse better take care of their child until she or he can become self-sufficient.
The length of a spousal support arrangement depends on the length of the marriage and the relative incomes of each party. Furthermore, if one spouse has been raising a child while unemployed, a Washington judge will likely award a longer period of alimony to facilitate workforce retraining. More often than not, however, spousal support will end when the recipient remarries.
If one party is capable of making more than she or he is currently earning, a Washington judge may choose to “impute” income to that spouse. In other words, the court will calculate the spousal support as if the spouse actually did, in fact, make more money. An experienced employment family lawyer can help ensure that you and your children receive the assistance you deserve.
Contact us today if you have a potential Spousal Support / Alimony case.
Stanley A. Kempner Jr. Attorney at Law assists Spokane County residents with cases involving family law, including divorce, child custody, visitation and parenting plans, child support, modifications, paternity, and spousal support, as well as those involving employment law, including discrimination, unemployment benefits, sexual harassment, wage/hour disputes, whistleblower actions, severance agreements, wrongful termination, employment agreements, and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
