Spousal support or alimony is authorized under California law. There are two types of spousal support; Temporary (pendente lite) and permanent support. Both are terms of art as they do not mean what they imply. Temporary support is support ordered during the pendency of the divorce proceeding. Permanent support is that support ordered at the time the divorce becomes final. Temporary support is calculated with a computer software program. Permanent support is determined by applying certain statutory factors such as:

• The length of the marriage
• The standard of living established during the marriage
• The needs of each party
• Financial resources and liabilities of each party, including separate property
• Each party’s source(s) of income
• The impact of the custodial parent’s employment on the needs of the minor children
• The age and health of each spouse
• Each spouses’ ability to be self supporting
• Tax consequences to each party
• The contribution of each party to domestic duties
• The contribution of each party to the education and training of the other party
• Domestic violence

In a marriage of short duration, (presumed to be under ten years) spousal support is usually ordered for one-half the length of the marriage. In a marriage of long duration, (presumed to be more than ten years) spousal support is usually ordered for an indefinite duration subject to modification.

Given the variations in the law and the numerous factors affecting the amount of spousal support payable from one party to the other, it is essential that you receive sound legal advice, whether you are the party paying support or the party receiving support. If litigation is in your best interest, we meticulously discover and document all relevant factors and aggressively advocate on your behalf to ensure that the Court’s order of support is fair and just.

At the Law Offices of Randy W. Medina, we work diligently to negotiate, litigate, draft, and implement alimony orders that meet the needs of our Los Angeles area clients without sacrificing valuable rights. Whether your matter requires a simple amicable agreement or consideration of highly complicated financial assets, we offer considerable experience in achieving favorable alimony terms for our clients.

We also assist individuals who seek modification of an existing support order due to a change in circumstances and we can assist you in enforcing an existing order for spousal support.