DeRidder Alimony Lawyer

DeRidder Alimony Attorney

If you need a DeRidder alimony lawyer, you want to know what to expect and what your options are. Alimony isn’t easy. It can impact your income, your housing situation, your future, and your sense of fair play. It’s also different from child support. We can’t eliminate your stress, but we can educate you about your alternatives and help you avoid expensive errors.

The team at Godley Law Firm understands how difficult divorce can be. Each client faces unique circumstances in these emotional cases, and we tailor our services to meet those needs. Divorce brings sudden changes to your finances that can leave more questions than answers. Our team, led by Attorney William L. Godley, is experienced with decades of representing clients in their divorces.

We focus on providing our clients with a combination of compassion, life experience, and courtroom experience that allows us to handle various family law matters such as divorce, custody, and alimony laws. No matter what side of alimony payments you are on, our team can help.

Types of Alimony in Louisiana

There are two different types of alimony. One is temporary, and the other is available after the divorce is finalized. Temporary support exists to help your spouse weather the divorce itself. It’s not meant to recreate the marital standard of living, but it can cover many of the same expenses. If your spouse can’t afford basic expenses like rent, utilities, and food on their own, the court may order you to pay temporary support.

Final support is paid after the divorce is complete. Final support is also known as final periodic support, and it has more limitations than temporary support. Louisiana allows the court to consider things like fault, which don’t factor into temporary support orders. Once your divorce is final, alimony has a chance to impact you for years.

For Divorce in DeRidder, most alimony cases go through the District Court. In Beauregard Parish, that may be the Beauregard Parish Courthouse located at 200 W 1st St, DeRidder, LA 70634.

The marriage rate in the United States was 2.4 per 1,000. The divorce rate in Louisiana was lower than this at 0.9 per 1,000. Additionally, the marriage rate was 3.7.

How Alimony Decisions Are Made

Unlike some states, there is no alimony formula in Louisiana. That means the courts have broad discretion to craft support orders as they see fit. That also means the details of your case really matter. Ideally, the court will look at your situation and determine what’s required for your spouse to maintain a reasonable standard of living. They also consider your ability to pay that standard.

Other factors include the length of the marriage, both spouses’ health and age, income, and earning potential. From there, the court will decide on an order that is equitable under the circumstances. Keep in mind that equitable does not always mean equal or fair in everyone’s opinion.

Modifying Alimony

Although alimony can be modified, keep in mind that most courts will not modify an alimony award unless there has been a substantial change in circumstances, such as loss of job, disability, etc. Those paying alimony should seek a fair initial order rather than expecting potential later modifications. As an alimony recipient, you should avoid having to constantly question whether your alimony order will change every few months.

Hire an Alimony Lawyer in DeRidder

When you hire an alimony lawyer, you are obtaining professional legal assistance beyond mere paperwork completion. You are hiring someone who can help you understand your risks, protect your financial future, and make sure your side of the story is heard. That means providing the court with accurate income information, knowing your debts and expenses, and making support requests that are reasonable and legally enforceable.

Your DeRidder alimony attorney can help make decisions without influence from fear or fatigue during your negotiations. Divorce can be draining. Being dragged through the legal process can make you want to give your spouse everything they ask for just to make it end. Don’t make any decisions about alimony until you have consulted with an attorney.

FAQs

What Qualifies You for Alimony in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, eligibility for spousal support requires assessment of financial need along with evaluation of payment ability. The court evaluates alimony eligibility based on factors such as income potential, health status, and age of both spouses, the duration of marriage, and the marital standard of living. To receive final periodic support, the requesting spouse must typically not be at fault for the divorce either.

Is Louisiana a 50/50 Divorce State?

Louisiana is a community property state. This means that most property acquired during the marriage is presumed to be marital property, which will be divided equally. However, things are not always 50/50. Separate property, reimbursement claims, debts, and other legal issues may impact how your assets and liabilities are divided. To understand how your assets will be impacted in your divorce, speak with a Louisiana divorce attorney.

What Is Not Considered Alimony?

Alimony is money given to an ex-spouse for the purpose of providing support. Child support is not considered alimony. Neither are lump sum property settlements, distribution of retirement benefits, nor payment of community property. Voluntary gifts, cash payments made outside the divorce decree, and maintenance prior to a court order are usually not considered alimony by the courts.

Do I Have to Pay Alimony If My Spouse Can Work?

You do not have to pay alimony if your spouse can work. If your spouse has the earning capacity, education, and work history to become self-supporting, the court may reduce an alimony award, grant only temporary support, or deny support altogether. It depends on the circumstances of each case and what evidence is presented.

DeRidder Alimony Lawyer

If you are going through a divorce, chances are that alimony may be a consideration. At Godley Law Firm, we can help you understand your rights and options and work towards a favorable outcome. Contact Godley Law Firm today for a consultation. Let us put our knowledge and experience to work for you.