Spousal Support Lawyer

in Novato, Marin County

What You May Be Ordered to Pay or Expect to Receive from Your Ex

If you are planning to file for divorce, or are in the process of getting a divorce, one of the key issues that will need to be resolved during the proceedings is spousal support (sometimes referred to as alimony). In California, a judge will assess spousal support based upon a myriad of factors, including the amount of time you and your spouse were married, your relative incomes, and so forth.
In most instances, there are four key elements considered by a judge when analyzing spousal support:

Length of the marriage;
Possibility of ongoing or lump sum spousal support;
Potential tax implications of the support award, and
The legal requirement that the supported party take reasonable steps to become self-supporting.

Because this process can be complicated, having an experienced and knowledgeable family law attorney on your side can help you decide how best to move forward.

Things to keep in mind through the

Spousal Support

Length of Marriage

Under California law, spousal support is impacted by the amount of time you and your spouse were married. For example, a good rule of thumb used by many California judges is that spousal support will last for half the length of a marriage when you and your spouses were married for less than 10 years. If, on the other hand, you were married for 10 years or longer, a California judge typically does not place a limit on time that spousal support will be provided.

Pendente Lite (i.e. Temporary) Spousal Support

Pendente lite is Latin for “during litigation” and basically means that a judge is empowered to enter an order granting temporary support before the divorcing couple has reached an agreement on a reasonable long-term support arrangement. California allows for temporary spousal support to assist both spouses in maintaining the “status quo” in their respective standard of living.

Long-Term Spousal Support

Long-term or permanent spousal support is the term for a support order agreed to by both you and your spouse as part of the final resolution of your divorce. As the name implies, the long-term support order is intended to last indefinitely (if you were married for 10 years or longer), but can be modified if you or your ex-spouse’s financial circumstances change dramatically.

Factors that Could Result in Loss, or Reduction, in Spousal Support

Under California law, courts recognize that circumstances may fluctuate and support orders may need to be modified based on those circumstances. For example, if you suddenly lose your job, it may impact the higher wage earner’s ability to support their ex-spouse.

If you are paying support to your ex-spouse and they subsequently remarry, a judge could modify the support order and possibly alleviate you of your financial obligations. The same modification could occur if your ex-spouse suddenly inherits a large sum of money.

Periodic Payments vs. Lump Sum Buyout

You and your spouse are empowered to negotiate a support agreement. One option that is available is to reach an agreement on monthly, periodic payments or for a single, lump sum to be paid out when the divorce is finalized. To get a proper assessment of the type of spousal support that is most advantageous to you, it makes sense to sit down and speak with an experienced and knowledgeable Novato spousal support lawyer.

Testimonials

Jeremy Castro helped me with an adoption after my daughter’s dad passed away. My husband has been a step dad to her for 8 years and wanted to adopt her. Even though there is no way he can completely fill the role of her deceased father, he wanted to fully be there for her and offer comfort and emotional support for her. Jeremy and his wife Danielle were there every step of the way for us! I’m so grateful they were there to help with all of our questions and guide us though this process. Jermey’s passion for helping bring families together was so delightful.

Erin C

This review is about my experience with Jeremy and team at Castro Law. After calling around numerous times to different firms, going to the law library, and reaching out to dads rights advocates. I still didn’t get much help. I made the best choice of my life by calling Castro Law. If you’re reading this I recommend at least giving them a call because they mean business. I finally feel at peace , they went above and beyond for me. The team is great at communicating, very knowledgeable, helpful, and are professional. In my experience mothers are the one favored in the courts, and get the better outcome. Jeremy and team were in my corner the whole time and proved that dads have rights too! Im with this team until my kids are 18 , thanks again Castro Law

Jessica G

I highly recommend Jeremy Castro and his associates to any future clients. They are legal professionals who: 1. Know and apply the law to your individual case to achieve the best possible outcome 2. Communicate in a fair and straightforward manner to all parties 3. Reduce the tension in an otherwise emotional setting and assist making objective decisions. They personally saw my case through to an amicable conclusion and their billing hours were appropriate. First class performance!

John C

I wanted to take this time to write a review about my experience with Castro Law Offices. First off, they were not only FAST to my reply, but also very kind to my emotional situation. I was even handed some tissues for when I was crying. I was treated with the upmost respect (even though I'm sure I looked a little manic while in there explaining my case.) and kindness. They got my case close within a week, and also got me EVERYTHING I was asked for. I recommend Castro Law for ANYONE in need of lawyer assistance. Jeremy and his team work hard, day and night to make sure they meet all of their client's needs. If you're looking for immediate help and guidance with ANY attorney, Castro Law.

Lacey M

When things came to a point of contention with my children's father I knew I needed the help of an attorney. After weeks long search and hundreds of dollars in consultation fees with numerous other attorneys I finally found Jeremy! He is very knowledgeable regarding family law issues, authentic in his character and legal advice, as well as very reliable. As anyone in our shoes has been knows, the unknown can be very stressful. Jeremy made it a point to get back to me promptly when I contacted him...sometimes late into the night. He also was very transparent regarding communication with the other party. Would absolutely recommend Jeremy to anyone with with family law needs!

Krystal W

I was so happy I had decided to hire the Castro Law Office for my child custody and visitation case in Napa County. As a single father of three boys in the state of California, I felt as if I was already doomed thinking that the state would favor the mother regardless of my capability to care for our children. Jeremy was very empathetic and worked diligently to get myself in a good position for the hearing, as I hired him approximately a month prior to the court date. During the hearing, he was very stern and aggressive at the right moments. The situation I was in was extremely stressful and hiring the Castro Law Office helped put my mind at ease. He was very upfront and honest with me from the beginning and which is a trait I greatly appreciated. In the end, we were able to obtain an agreement that is best suited for the children and ourselves. I would hire them again for any other issues I might have in the future.

Abraham B

Have Questions About Your Rights And Obligations Related To Spousal Support?

Contact An Experienced Novato Divorce Lawyer

If you are contemplating getting divorced, or are in the process of getting divorced, and need help assessing your rights and/or obligations for spousal support, Castro Law Offices, P.C. is here to help. We are a reputable California law firm focusing in family law and domestic relations, including the complex issues associated with spousal support. Castro Law Offices, P.C. is based in Novato, California, but is ready and able to provide legal services and advice to clients in and around Marin County including Novato, San Rafael, Greenbrae, San Anselmo, Fairfax, Sausalito, Larkspur, West Marin, Ross, Mill Valley and Corte Madera. Contact Castro Law Offices, P.C. today to schedule a confidential consultation.