×
Menu
Search

Spousal Support

Home
Practice Areas
Spousal Support

We guide our clients throughout their divorce, resolving their legal problems in the most practical and efficient way possible.

Virginia Spousal Support Attorneys

Spousal support ā€“ commonly called alimony ā€“ is a payment mechanism that helps to balance the financial inequities that are sometimes experienced by divorcing parties. If one divorcing spouse experiences a financial setback upon divorce and the other is able to help offset it, spousal support may be ordered. Spousal support doesnā€™t play a role in every divorce, but when it is appropriate, it can be an important tool that helps to bridge the financial gap between divorcing parties. If you have questions or concerns related to spousal support and your divorce, donā€™t wait to consult with an experienced Virginia divorce attorney.

Spousal Support Is Not Intended to Punish

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, spousal support is not intended to punish the spouse who is responsible for causing the marriageā€™s demise, but this is not to say that every factor that contributed to the dissolution of the marriage wonā€™t play a role in the courtā€™s decision-making process. Further, if the spouse seeking spousal support is proven to have had an affair, he or she may be barred from receiving spousal support. An exception, however, is if the potential recipient of spousal support can clearly demonstrate that being denied this support would prove financially unjust, which can lead to the court making an exception.

The Factors Involved

When it comes to spousal support, there is the matter of whether it is appropriate in your situation, and if so, there is the matter of its amount and duration. The factors that the court takes into consideration in this process include:

  • The length of the marriage
  • Each spouseā€™s financial obligations, needs, and resources, including any income from retirement plans, pensions, or profit-sharing
  • Each spouseā€™s capacity to earn, level of education, job skills, and training
  • The opportunities available for the spouse requesting support to acquire the education, experience, and/or skills necessary to increase his or her earning capacity
  • The standard of living the couple achieved during their marriage
  • Each spouseā€™s age, physical and mental health, and any relevant extenuating circumstances
  • The extent that age and/or the physical or mental health of the spouse requesting support precludes him or her from working outside the home
  • Each spouseā€™s contributions to the familyā€™s well-being, including both monetary and non-monetary (such as childcare and homemaking) contributions
  • Each spouseā€™s separate property interests
  • How the marital assets were divided in the divorce
  • The degree to which the spouse seeking support contributed to his or her spouseā€™s education, career, and/or earning potential over the course of the marriage
  • The tax implications both spouses will experience as a result of the divorce
  • Any other factors the court deems relevant to the case in question

Seek the Experienced Legal Guidance of a Dedicated Virginia Divorce Attorney Today

Spousal support can play an important role in your post-divorce finances, and the trusted Virginia divorce attorneys at Virginia Family Law Center are well acquainted with the complications inherent to obtaining this financial support and are here to help. To learn more, please donā€™t wait to contact us today.

READ OUR
5 STAR REVIEWS

more than

30

YEARS OF FAMILY
LAW EXPERIENCE

SCHEDULE YOUR
CONSULTATION

At Virginia Family Law Center, we protect clientsā€™ rights and help them understand the legal processes they are working through. Schedule yourĀ consultation 30-minute consultation with an experienced lawyer by filling out the form below.