When people get divorced, they lose a source of income as well as their spouses. One way to mitigate the sudden reduction in earnings is to petition the court for spousal support, also known as alimony. Although alimony is not as popular with the courts as it used to be, you many still be able to obtain an award if you enlist the help of a Divorce Attorney in Poulsbo WA, and prove to the court that you need the money. Here is what you can do to increase your chances of getting monthly support from your ex-spouse.
Prove Income Disparity
The courts will typically order one spouse to pay alimony to the other if there is a significant income disparity between the two. For instance, if your ex-spouse earns $75,000 per year, but you only earn $25,000, you may be able to successfully petition the court for a support order based on those grounds.
Be aware, though, that the court will also look at your capacity to earn money. This will typically entail having a vocational expert evaluate your education and skill set to determine what you could be making if you found a job that matched them. If you can increase your earning by changing your job situation, the court may only order your ex to pay alimony for a limited amount of time to allow you to find a better paying position.
Standard of Living
You may also be able to win a spousal support award if you’re not able to maintain a minimum standard of living without your spouse’s help. If the loss of your spouse’s income would put you below the poverty line or require you to get on welfare, for example, then the court may award you support until you’re able to support yourself.
Be prepared to show that the standard of living you want to maintain is reasonable in when compared to how you were living. The courts will not force your spouse to support a lifestyle that was greater than what the two of you had while you were together.
Successfully petitioning the court for support may be challenging. Getting a Divorce Attorney in Poulsbo WA, to help you can make it easier to obtain the outcome you want in your case.
