Spousal Support

During a marriage, one spouse may have been financially dependant on the other spouse. In some cases, although one spouse wasn’t completely dependent on the income of his/her spouse, he/she made significantly less money. For these reasons, spousal support was established to protect a financially dependent spouse in the wake of a divorce.  The courts want to ensure that a dependent spouse still has the financial resources to maintain the standard of living he/she experienced during the marriage.  Spousal support payments are designed to cover daily necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, transportation costs, insurance, etc.

Determining the amount of spousal support one is required to pay can be a sensitive subject.  The dependent spouse may feel like he or she is not receiving enough money to sustain their current lifestyle, and the supporting spouse may feel like he or she is being taken advantage of. When the parties are able to reach an agreement outside of court, the judge will almost always respect and uphold the decision. However, when the parties cannot mutually agree on a set amount, the judge will determine the stipulations for spousal support on their behalf. A judge will take into consideration a number of factors, including:

• Each spouse’s current income
• Each spouse’s ability to earn money
• Each spouse’s financial resources
• Each spouse’s debts and assets
• The length of the marriage
• The contributions each spouse made to the household
• Which spouse has custody of the children (if applicable)
• The health and age of each spouse
• The behavior of each spouse during the marriage

Types of New York Spousal Support

There are two types of spousal support in New York: permanent support and rehabilitative support. Permanent support is paid until the dependent spouse remarries or dies. Rehabilitative support is temporary, and is generally paid until the dependent spouse can build or develop the skills he or she needs to be financially self-sufficient.

Contact our Long Island Divorce Lawyers

If you are going through the divorce process and are seeking spousal support, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced divorce lawyer. At Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C., we have over 30 years of experience handling divorce cases in Long Island and the surrounding New York area. We can protect your rights and your best interests, and help you reach a spousal support agreement that meets your financial needs. We know this is a stressful and overwhelming time in your life. When you retain the services of one of our dedicated divorce lawyers, you will work with an attorney that will handle your case with the utmost compassion, sensitivity, and care. Our first priority has always been to provide every client with exceptional representation, and ensure that their main objectives have been achieved.

Contact Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C.

Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C. is proud to provide legal representation for clients in the New York Metropolitan area, including:  Long Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, New York City, Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester, Rockland Counties and New Jersey.