Financial Support
During and after a divorce, most people are worried about their finances. How are they going to support themselves and their children after divorce? At the law firm of Patterson, Hanna & Associates, our lawyers take pride in carefully reviewing your case to find out what financial support is necessary. With more than 25 years of experience handling child and spousal support for people in Orange County and beyond, we are familiar with the range of options available. We can help you find the one that is right for you.
Child Support
The purpose of child support is to help pay for the support and maintenance of the everyday needs of your child. The California courts use a child support guideline program to determine the amount of child support. There are many factors which the court will input into the computer program to calculate child support. The primary factors used by most courts are the income of both parents, the amount of time both parents spend with the child and the number of children. If a party is not employed, the court may consider each party's earning ability.
The calculation of support can be complicated. The attorneys at Patterson, Hanna & Associates have extensive experience in defining the factors considered by the court and structuring a resolution to meet your financial needs.
Spousal Support
The court may also order spousal support payable by one spouse to the other during the dissolution process and possibly continuing after the dissolution is complete. The evaluation of the amount of support and the length of time that support will be paid is complicated.
The general rule is that a marriage of less than 10 years will require a support obligation for one-half the term of the marriage. The court may use its discretion, however, to deviate from this general rule. When the marriage is longer than 10 years, the support obligation will generally continue without the court defining a termination date. A waiver of spousal support by one party will generally require that the parties consult separate counsel for the waiver to be valid.
The court will consider the parties' standard of living during the marriage, the supported spouse's needs and a parties' financial ability to pay when determining the amount of support. The court may order the supported spouse to make a reasonable effort to contribute to their own financial support in a long-term marriage.
The attorneys at Patterson, Hanna & Associates will assist you in evaluating all of the factors which must be considered in determining the spousal support obligation.
Start With a Consultation
To schedule a consultation with our California law firm, call us at 714-888-4834 or send us an e-mail.
