As part of the
divorce process in Texas, ex-spouses may need to engage in a spousal support arrangement
so that all parties involved can exit the divorce gracefully.
At the Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny, our Houston-based legal team will
work with you one-on-one to ensure you navigate your divorce successfully
and reach an arrangement that fits your needs.
Establishing Temporary Spousal Support
Unlike many states, Texas doesn't have varying degrees of alimony that
may be awarded to an ex-spouse during the divorce. The Texas equivalent
of alimony is
spousal maintenance. If one spouse demonstrates a need for financial support post-divorce
and that need is upheld by the court, they may receive spousal maintenance
payments from their ex-spouse. Occasionally, parties in a Texas divorce
will arrange a contractual maintenance agreement out-of-court, in which
one spouse pays an agreed-upon amount of support to their ex-spouse.
Unfortunately, divorces are not always amicable. In a contested divorce
where tensions run high between ex-spouses, it's unlikely that either
party will agree to an out-of-court spousal support contract. Additionally,
contracts arranged out-of-court are notoriously tricky to uphold legally.
If one party starts to neglect the contract, getting a court to enforce
it may be difficult with an out-of-court agreement. A family law attorney
can help you and your ex-spouse reach a mutually beneficial spousal support
arrangement that you won't regret in the long-term.
In situations where one spouse is financially dependent on the other, the
dependent spouse can file for temporary spousal support at the same time
they file for divorce.
Temporary spousal support only lasts until the divorce is finalized. Taking advantage of temporary spousal support can help both spouses retain
their assets and credit scores during the divorce process.
What's the Process for Receiving Temporary Spousal Support?
To receive temporary spousal support, you need to file a Motion for Temporary
Orders and request a temporary spousal support hearing. At this hearing, the court will consider several factors that determine
whether or not you receive temporary spousal support, such as :
- Your employment history and professional skillset
- Your current income
- Your ex-spouse's current income
- The standard of living you've acclimated to in your marriage
- Other relevant financial records, such as tax returns for both parties
or assets that may contribute to you or your spouse's net worth
An experienced family law attorney can help you file for temporary spousal
support and understand other facets of the divorce process, such as
child custody and
child support.
Utilizing a family law attorney when filing for temporary spousal support
is particularly important because only certain documents are permitted
to support temporary spousal support hearings. Certain bills or documents
may be considered hearsay and negatively affect the outcome of your motion,
so having a legal professional on-hand to help you understand the process
and exhibit the correct documents is vital.
Receive a Consultation from Our Family Law Legal Team
For more than 30 years, our Houston-based law office has helped clients
navigate the divorce process to reach mutually beneficial arrangements
with ex-spouses.
You can contact our team at the Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny onlineor at (713) 936-23000 to receive a consultation today.