Personalized Legal Solutions For Spousal Support

Divorce can be an incredibly stressful time, especially if you are unsure if you will be able to support yourself financially during and after this period. At Meadows Law Firm, we understand how frustrating and emotional this time is for you, and our southwest Ohio family law attorney can do whatever it takes to ensure you are awarded the spousal support you need to make ends meet for yourself and your children.

Get the legal support you need. Give us a call to schedule your first free 30-minute consultation. 513-454-6746. 

Types Of Spousal Support

There are different types of spousal support determined based on your needs. How long one spouse should support the other is up to the judge as there are not general state-mandated guidelines for this.

Temporary Spousal Support: You have a right to support, which starts the moment you and your loved one separate. If you and your spouse can make a written agreement regarding the amount of temporary support, it will save you time and money. If you cannot, then you will likely spend time arguing over it in court.

Short-Term, Rehabilitative Spousal Support: Short-term, rehabilitative support is often awarded when one dependent spouse needs financial support to help them get retrained and back into the workforce. When this type of spousal support is awarded, it is awarded with the understanding that the spouse will be supported while they complete a training program or any other educational program that can give them the skills they need to become employable. If you are paying spousal support and you suspect your ex is no longer attending the training program, you can ask the courts to reduce or end spousal support.

Long-Term Or Permanent Spousal Support: Typically, if a marriage lasts longer than 10 years, permanent spousal support can be awarded if a judge believes a dependent spouse is unable to go back into the workplace. Permanent support ends when the payer dies, or if the support receiver remarries or begins a live-in relationship.

Reimbursement Spousal Support: If one spouse sacrificed further training and education so that the other could attend school or train for a more well-paid career, reimbursement spousal support might be awarded. This is because one spouse made the sacrifice with the assumption that once their partner finished their training and established their career, they would be free to pursue their own career goals.

How Is Spousal Support Calculated?

Ohio does not use a particular formula for calculating spousal support. Instead, the courts review 14 factors when determining whether or not spousal support will be awarded and if so, how much.

Some of these factors include:

• Length of the marriage
• Income of both parties
• Earning ability
• Age of the parties
• Physical and mental conditions of both parties
• If one parent will be a custodial parent of a minor child
• Standard of living during the marriage
• Education of both parties

If you and your spouse are in the process of separating and you need spousal support, retaining a skilled Butler County divorce lawyer can help you get the support you need.

Call Meadows Law Firm today for a free 30-minute consultation. 513-454-6746.