New Orleans Alimony Lawyer | Spousal Support
For many, ending a marriage can mean substantial changes to their financial situation. Depending on the circumstances, that may mean one spouse has to continue supporting the other for a specific period so that they can maintain their standard of living. Whether you are the one paying or receiving alimony or spousal support, it’s important that you have an alimony lawyer on your side who can make your voice heard and your concerns known.
At Betsy A. Fischer & Associates, LLC, our alimony lawyer has over 30 years of experience handling alimony and spousal support-related cases. She has worked with spouses on both sides of the situation and knows how to effectively represent your interests during these instances.
What Is Alimony?
Alimony is typically ordered by the court to a spouse or former spouse after separation or divorce arrangements. The purpose of alimony is to give financial support to the spouse who is in a lesser position financially after the divorce or separation.
In Louisiana, a judge can choose to award any of the three following types of alimony:
- Interim support: This is given to a spouse only during the actual divorce proceedings.
- Periodic support: This is available to a spouse after the divorce process is complete and is the most common in Louisiana. Periodic support supplements the lower earning spouse’s actual income.
- Permanent support: This is awarded for an indefinite time after a divorce. Permanent support is rare and only given when there is some circumstance preventing the other spouse from earning an income for themselves.
During the divorce process, a spouse will need to show a need for financial support. The court will not begin evaluating alimony until the judge agrees that there is a need for support and that the other party has the ability to pay alimony. Next, the judge will determine if the party asking for alimony was “at fault” for the divorce. If the court finds that you were the “at-fault” party, then alimony may be reduced or denied.
Learn From An Alimony Lawyer: What Do Judges Consider When Determining Alimony/Spousal Support?
They typically consider the following factors:
- Age and health
- Child custody responsibilities
- Domestic abuse
- Duration of the marriage
- Earning capacity
- Education, employment or training requirements
- Financial obligations
- Future earning capacity
- Income
- Prior criminal history
- Tax ramifications
A court can review and reverse alimony at any time should circumstances change for either party.
Is There A Difference Between Alimony And Spousal Support?
While many parts of the country call it “alimony,” in Louisiana, the technical legal term for marital support payments is “spousal support.” Despite the different terms, of course, spousal support issues in Louisiana still suffer from the same types of problems that all marital support cases suffer: spouses who do not pay, spouses who do not pay enough and spouses who pay too much. The list goes on.
Let Our Alimony Lawyer Provide The Advocacy And Counsel You Need
The facts governing how much spousal support is appropriate under Louisiana law make for a complicated soup of mathematical calculations. Betsy A. Fischer & Associates, LLC, regularly assists clients in understanding and applying these calculations fairly. We diligently help all of our clients to thoroughly investigate the facts of the case, determine what the numbers really are, and set fair and accurate amounts for spousal support payments.
Our New Orleans firm advises clients concerning spousal support issues both while the divorce is pending as well as after the divorce is finalized. Our firm understands that cost-effective and efficient lawyering is critical at this stage. Our experience in court and at the negotiating table allows us to determine when a trial is and when a trial is not the best option for achieving a client’s goal with respect to spousal support. To learn more about what we can do for you, set up a consultation by calling us at 504-688-6953 or visiting our contact page today.