McKinney Alimony Attorneys

Collin County Lawyers for Spousal Support

For individuals going through the divorce process, financial considerations are among the top concerns. Along with property division, child custody, and child support issues, spousal support or alimony can be a contentious topic during a divorce.

The Ramage Law Group is ready to act as your advocate. Whether you expect your divorce to be collaborative, amiable, or contested, our lawyers are here to help you through the legal process. We understand Texas' divorce laws, and we can provide guidance to work towards a satisfactory resolution.

Spousal Support and Alimony in Texas

As a divorce proceeds, issues of spousal support or alimony can be raised if there is a significant difference in income and financial resources between the two parties. Separate from child support, spousal support or alimony aims to address a financial imbalance, especially in cases where there was not a prenuptial agreement or a postnuptial agreement.

Spousal support may include temporary financial payments that a judge may order one spouse to pay the other while the divorce is pending. These payments may be needed to ensure that one party will be able to meet their needs during the divorce case, including finding new living arrangements or covering other ongoing expenses that they do not have the financial resources to fully pay. Since this form of support is temporary, it will usually only last until the couple's divorce has been finalized.

To establish more permanent spousal support payments, a couple may agree that contractual alimony will be paid by one spouse to the other after the divorce. This agreement may be made in conjunction with decisions about property division, such as in cases where one spouse will keep certain assets in exchange for paying contractual spousal support to the other spouse.

Texas Spousal Maintenance Awards

If the two parties cannot come to an agreement on matters related to spousal support during their divorce proceedings, spousal maintenance payments may be ordered by the court. In Texas, the decision of whether to award spousal maintenance may be based on the following factors:

• If one spouse cannot earn enough income to support themselves due to a disability or is caring for a child with a disability
• If the marriage lasted for at least 10 years and the court agrees that one spouse is incapable of earning enough income to support themselves.

The maximum monthly spousal maintenance payments cannot be more than $5,000 per month or more than 20 percent of the payor spouse's gross monthly income. The maximum amount of time that maintenance can be paid is for 10 years, but the duration of payments will be based on the length of the marriage, and in most cases, it will last for a shorter period. An exception to this time limit may apply if maintenance is granted due to a disability.

Our divorce lawyers will represent your needs in matters related to spousal maintenance, and, if warranted, we can help negotiate a spousal support agreement as part of your divorce settlement. In addition to spousal maintenance, our law firm can also help clients undergoing a divorce navigate the division of marital property and address other issues that may be unique to a high-asset divorce.

Contact a Frisco Spousal Maintenance Lawyer

At The Ramage Law Group, we believe in treating our clients with dignity and respect, and we understand the difficult negotiations that often accompany the divorce process. To learn how we can assist with spousal support or the divorce process in general, contact The Ramage Law Group today. Call us at 469-240-1371 to get the help you need during this difficult time. We handle all types of family law cases in Collin, Tarrant, Denton, and Harris Counties and in Prosper, Frisco, Plano, McKinney, and Allen.