Batzli Wood & Stiles PC
Richmond, Virginia, Spousal Support Lawyers
Determining Spousal Support - Alimony
Practice Limited to Family Law and Related Matters
When deciding whether to award spousal support, the courts generally weigh the financial needs of the spouse requesting support against the other spouse's ability to pay.
Unlike child support, spousal support is an area of divorce that is not normally executed by formula under Virginia law. Individual circumstances typically dictate whether spousal support is awarded, and if so, the amount.In Virginia, spousal support issues are among the many details handled adeptly by the experienced family law attorneys of Batzli Wood & Stiles PC. We have been recognized by our peers as top family law attorneys in the Richmond area.
We understand that determining each spouse's income or earning potential may be difficult. Because of this, we employ the services of certified public accountants or vocational experts to investigate the reasonableness of the expenses claimed by your spouse and the earning capacity of a spouse. We also have experience working with financial consultants to assist you in determining your own financial needs. This may be especially helpful to clients who were not responsible for the family finances over the course of a long-term marriage.
In deciding whether to award spousal support, the court considers a number of factors, including
- The earning capacity of each spouse and their respective expenses
- The length of the marriage
- Each party's health
- The standard of living established during the marriage and other factors relating to the parties and their marriage.
In some cases, the circumstances that led to the breakdown of the marriage may impact whether a person is entitled to spousal support.
To discuss the factors that go into determining spousal support (alimony), including rehabilitative alimony, contact us.
