There are few things more important to financially dependent spouses than receiving alimony payments after their divorce. Receiving alimony can be the difference between retaining a person’s standard of living and not. Our legal team has decades of combined legal experience helping clients, both during and after the divorce process. That said, if you’re someone who is making regular alimony payments here in California, you may wonder when you’ll no longer be required to do so. Please continue reading and contact our experienced Los Angeles spousal support attorneys to learn more. Here are some of the questions you may have:
How do courts in California determine the duration of an alimony agreement?
Here in the state of California, courts will consider a wide range of factors when determining the amount to be paid, as well as for how long, when it comes to alimony. Two of the most important factors are each spouse’s yearly salary and the duration of their marriage. The longer a couple has been married, the longer their alimony agreement will likely be. That said, courts will also consider a bevy of additional factors, including the following:
- Each spouse’s age
- Each spouse’s health
- The standard of living established during the marriage
- Whether a child custody/child support agreement is in place
- Any other factor the court deems relevant
Can alimony ever end early?
Though a judge will initially determine the duration of an alimony agreement, you should understand that certain circumstances may warrant early termination of such an agreement. For example, if the spouse receiving alimony gets remarried or is cohabitating with a new romantic partner, they likely will no longer require alimony, and in most cases, this can warrant early termination of a given alimony agreement. Additionally, if the spouse receiving alimony gets a significant raise, job promotion, or otherwise is making a significant amount more/comes into a large sum of money, the individual paying alimony may request a modification to or termination of the existing alimony agreement. Finally, if the spouse paying alimony develops a serious medical condition that requires costly medical treatment, if they can prove this would impact their ability to pay alimony, it may warrant a modification to the agreement in place.
If you have any further questions about how alimony works in the state of California, simply reach out to a dedicated Los Angeles divorce attorney from our legal team today.
Contact our experienced Los Angeles firm
For the qualified, dedicated legal representation you and your family deserve and need through any family law or divorce matter, contact Zitser Family Law Group, APC today.
