Are you seeking spousal support for a divorce in Ruston, LA? If so, a Ruston spousal support lawyer from Knight Law Firm can help. Call (318) 722-8919 or contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Spousal support, sometimes referred to as alimony, ensures both spouses maintain the same quality of life during and after a divorce that they had before a divorce. It can have significant financial impacts on both parties and is often highly contested in divorce proceedings.
Our team understands how difficult divorce cases are and will support you through every step of the process. We’ll fight hard to ensure you get the support you deserve.
How Knight Law Firm Can Help in a Ruston Spousal Support Case
Divorce cases are emotional, stressful, and difficult for all parties involved. An experienced family law attorney can guide you through the process and ensure things go as smoothly as possible.
Since our opening, Knight Law Firm has helped clients with all types of family law disputes. We have over 20 years of experience with family law and work hard to get the best result possible for every client. We also understand the benefits of resolving cases as quickly as possible, so we work hard to move cases forward and come up with a settlement that is in our client’s best interests.
When you hire our team to handle a spousal support case, we’ll:
- Start with a consultation to discuss your case, your concerns, and the outcomes you want to achieve
- Review documents to analyze your case and determine the support you’re entitled to receive
- Negotiate with your spouse’s attorney to reach a fair settlement
- If necessary, file a lawsuit and represent you in court
- Handle all correspondence and administrative tasks
- Keep you updated on the status of your case
- Support you throughout the process
Our team is thorough, skilled, and dedicated to providing each client with excellent legal representation. Call us today to schedule a case evaluation with a Ruston family law attorney.
What Is Spousal Support?
Spousal support, or alimony, involves court-ordered payments by one spouse to another during and after a divorce. The purpose of alimony is to ensure that both parties maintain the same standard of living after a divorce. It also helps to ensure normalcy while a divorce is in process.
Spousal support is typically paid by the spouse who earns more. However, as more divorces involve two spouses with incomes, Louisiana courts are awarding spousal support less than in the past. If you’re seeking spousal support in a Louisiana divorce, contact a Louisiana divorce attorney as soon as possible to ensure your rights are protected.
How Long Does Spousal Support Last in Louisiana?
A pressing question for many clients is, how long will alimony payments last? This makes sense as individuals try to find a new normal after a divorce and figure out what their long-term financial situation will look like.
In Louisiana, courts have wide discretion in awarding spousal support. It can be temporary or long-term. There are three types of spousal support frequently awarded in Ruston divorce cases.
- Temporary or interim spousal support: This is a short-term court order to help both spouses maintain a normal routine during divorce proceedings. It’s most commonly awarded when one spouse has been out of the workforce for an extended period. Interim spousal support lasts until 180 days after the divorce is finalized. However, it can be extended for good cause.
- Contractual spousal support: Some couples address alimony in their prenuptial or postnuptial agreements. If a contractual agreement states that no alimony will be awarded or provides a specific amount for alimony payments, courts usually will enforce it.
- Final spousal support: Final spousal support has no end date. It can be changed or canceled but is issued without having an end date in mind.
The duration of spousal support in Louisiana depends on various factors, including the type of support awarded and the specific circumstances of the case. Understanding these options can help you plan for the future and ensure a fair outcome as you navigate the divorce process.
How Do Courts Calculate Alimony in Louisiana?
There is no set formula used by Louisiana courts to determine whether alimony will be awarded or what the amount will be. Instead, alimony decisions are very fact-specific. Clients regularly want to know whether they’ll receive alimony and how much it will be.
The reality is there’s no set rule to apply to answer that question. Instead, our team will analyze key factors impacting spousal support and build a strong case to get the best outcome possible. Key factors that Louisiana judges use to make alimony decisions are:
- The length of the marriage
- Whether or not the spouses earn similar amounts
- The disparity between the income of the two spouses
- How long it will take for the spouse requesting support to find the desired employment
- Whether either spouse has a qualifying disability
- The health and age of each spouse
- Whether or not there was abuse or domestic violence during the marriage
- Whether or not one spouse was at fault in the divorce
- Tax consequences to both parties
Ultimately, the calculation of alimony in Louisiana is based on a variety of factors unique to each case, making it essential to work with an experienced attorney who can help navigate these complexities.
Can I Request Spousal Support if I’m at Fault in the Divorce?
In Louisiana, courts will not award alimony to a spouse who is at fault in the divorce. Fault-based grounds for divorce in Louisiana are:
- Adultery
- Conviction of felony
- Domestic violence or abuse
- Living apart because of a restraining order
- Abandonment
It’s common for the spouse who earns more to try to prove that their spouse was at fault for the divorce. This is a way to avoid spousal support payments.
Does Louisiana Have an Alimony Calculator?
While Louisiana has a child support calculator, there’s no such tool used for spousal support. Instead, judges have wide discretion when awarding alimony and will consider the unique facts of each case when making a decision.
Judges evaluate factors like current income, work history, the job market, the skill sets of each spouse, the length of the marriage, and the age and health of each spouse. It’s hard to anticipate the amount of alimony payments that a court will order. However, an experienced Ruston alimony lawyer can evaluate your case and advise you on what the courts are likely to do.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Ruston Spousal Support Lawyer?
The cost of hiring a Ruston spousal support lawyer varies based on the complexity of your case. At the start of representation, our team can evaluate your case and give you an estimate of how much your attorney fees will be.
Factors that impact how much you’ll pay in attorney fees are:
- How long you were married: Generally, the longer you are married, the more complex the case is, which leads to higher attorney fees.
- The willingness of each party to negotiate: It’s ideal to reach a settlement agreement in a spousal support case. However, if one party is unwilling to negotiate, you’ll likely have to file a lawsuit and go to court. This increases the amount both spouses pay in attorney fees.
- You and your spouse’s work experience and education: The amount of income that each spouse earns and the type of job that each spouse does impact the complexity of spousal support cases. If one spouse has highly specialized skills with a high earning potential, the case will be more complex than if both parties have lower incomes and earning potential.
- Any additional complicating factors: Any issues that make your case more complex or time-consuming to resolve will increase the amount you pay in attorney fees.
When considering the cost of hiring a spousal support attorney, it’s important to also evaluate the long-term financial benefits of getting a favorable alimony award. The long-term expense of not hiring a spousal support lawyer is usually much greater than the cost of attorney fees.
An experienced alimony lawyer will build a strong case to ensure you get the spousal support you need and deserve. This can lead to long-term financial security. Schedule a evaluation with our team to discuss your case and get an estimate of what your attorney fees will be.
Do I Have to Hire an Attorney in a Spousal Support Case?
You are not required to hire an attorney to represent you in a Louisiana spousal support case. However, it’s usually a good idea to do so. Spousal support payments can be long-term and have a significant impact on your quality of life for many years.
A good family lawyer will help you build a strong case and ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. In addition, your lawyer will help you navigate a difficult and stressful process.
Divorce cases can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to handle them on your own. A Louisiana divorce lawyer will handle all aspects of your case so you can focus on finding a new normal during a divorce.
Schedule a Consultation With a Ruston Spousal Support Lawyer
If you’re going through a divorce in Louisiana, Knight Law Firm can help. We have decades of experience supporting men and women throughout the divorce process. We’ll analyze your case and discuss your rights. Next, we’ll aggressively fight to get you the best result possible.
Call us, contact us online, or visit our northwest Louisiana family law office as soon as possible to schedule a consultation with a Ruston spousal support lawyer.
