Alimony Attorneys in The Woodlands Helping Couples Part Ways and Preserve their Finances

Texas has some of the most complex state alimony in divorce proceeding procedures in the country. Alimony, also known as spousal maintenance, is financial support from one spouse to the other. The laws in Texas restrict who is eligible for spousal maintenance after divorce.

Generally speaking, the spouse seeking spousal maintenance must prove they will not have sufficient means after divorce to support their minimum reasonable needs.

We are firm and fair and always advocate for our clients, whether it’s fighting for spousal support to sustain a spouse’s lifestyle and family after divorce or taking a defensive approach and ensuring our clients don’t get financially taken advantage of.

What is Alimony?

Alimony is an agreed-upon payment that one spouse makes to the other during or after divorce. It is also known as spousal maintenance or support and should not be confused with child support. Most people fight for alimony to limit unfair financial advantages after the divorce between a high-income earner and a low-income earner.

Court-ordered alimony is challenging in Texas, so it’s wise to get our attorneys involved if you cannot agree with your soon-to-be ex-spouse.

Texas law mandates that spousal support should be no more than $5,000 per month or 20 percent of the payer’s average monthly income. There is also a limit on how long a spouse has to pay alimony if it gets approved. For instance, alimony should not exceed sixty months if the marriage lasted at least ten years.

What are Minimum Reasonable Needs?

The spouse seeking maintenance must show they cannot provide for their “minimum reasonable needs” to get alimony support. This refers to only the essentials, including food, clothing, housing, and utilities.

A common misconception in divorce is that a spouse must pay alimony so the other spouse can maintain the same lifestyle they had while married. This is not true, at least in Texas.

If you hire us to manage your divorce proceedings, we will help you fight for alimony if there is a basis for it. We can negotiate better and more generous terms on your behalf by working directly with your spouse and their attorney, as the court doesn’t have much weight here.

Rest assured, we will negotiate on your behalf if you do not have the financial means or employment opportunities available. We can look at temporary alimony or other options to get you on your feet.

How Can I Avoid Paying Alimony?

Alimony is not a requirement in a Texas divorce. A spouse must be eligible to receive alimony first. The court reviews various factors, from the length of the marriage, child support obligations, marital misconduct, property of both spouses, and much more.

One way to avoid alimony is to end the marriage as soon as possible. Alimony is based on the duration of the marriage, so if you know it’s not going to work out, don’t prolong it. A couple must be married for ten years to qualify for spousal support in Texas.

Another way to avoid alimony is not to cheat. A spouse might have some bargaining power regarding alimony if a spouse cheated in the marriage. Lastly, get a good attorney. We might be able to help you avoid alimony altogether or reduce the amount using different strategies depending on the circumstances.

How Can an Alimony Attorney Help Me?

Morgan Bourque Attorney at Law, and our experienced alimony lawyers are knowledgeable in many areas of family law, including divorce and alimony. This puts our clients at an advantage as our suite of services helps couples more seamlessly navigate some of the toughest challenges in life.

We have fought for the low-income earners that need financial cushion after divorce and the high-income earners looking to protect their earnings. We always fight for what’s fair and suitable for our clients based on the circumstances.

Divorce is never easy, nor are the decisions that go along with it. When you need legal representation that advocates for your particular situation, choose Morgan Bourque Attorney at Law. Schedule your consultation to see how we can help you fight your fight: 713-766-3733.