Spousal Maintenance Lawyer in Long Island
Protecting Your Rights During Divorce
Not all
divorce settlements include maintenance, which is otherwise known as spousal support
or alimony. If maintenance is not requested by one of the spouses, then
it will not be an issue that needs to be resolved in a settlement agreement.
In cases where spousal support is needed or where it has been ordered
by the court but not paid to the spouse to whom it is due, it is vital
to seek reliable legal assistance to handle the matter.
If you have a maintenance issue in New York, we strongly advise you to
consult with a
Long Island divorce attorney at the Rubenfeld Law Firm about the specifics of your particular situation.
Our law firm has been providing experienced and trusted legal assistance
in the field of divorce and family law to families throughout the area
for decades. When you retain the services of an attorney at our firm,
you can be confident that your legal matter is in the hands of capable
professionals who have effectively and successfully helped thousands of
family law clients.
Spousal Support in the State of New York
In the past, the amount of Spousal Support has been one of the most difficult
issues for the parties' to address in divorce. For this reason, major
changes have recently been enacted to Spousal Support Laws in the State
of New York. For all divorce actions commenced on or after January 25,
2016, the amount of Spousal Support will be determined using a mathematical
formula approach. There are two different sets of formulas depending on
whether the payor spouse will also have to pay child support. Also, the
duration of maintenance will be based on the length of the parties'
marriage. These new laws which establish guidelines for determining the
amount and duration of Spousal Support will make it easier for the parties'
to determine the appropriate amount of Spousal Support to be paid in a
particular case.
The following 15 factors may also be considered in determining the amount
and duration of maintenance:
(A) The age and health of the parties;
(B) the present of future earning capacity of the parties, including a
history of limited participation in the workforce;
(C) the need of one party to incur education or training expenses;
(D) the termination of a child support award before the termination of
the maintenance award when the calculation of maintenance was based upon
child support being awarded which resulted in a maintenance award lower
than it would have been had child support not been awarded:
(E) the wasteful dissipation of
marital property, including transfers or encumbrances made in contemplation of a matrimonial
action without fair consideration;
(F) the existence and duration of a pre-marital joint household or pre-divorce
separate household;
(G) acts by one party against another that have inhibited or continue to
inhibit a party's earning capacity or ability to obtain meaningful
employment. Such acts include but are not limited to acts of domestic
violence as provided in section four hundred fifty-nine-a of the social
services law;
(H) the availability and cost of medical insurance for the parties;
(I) the care of children or stepchildren, disabled adult children or stepchildren,
elderly parents or in-laws provided during the marriage that inhibits
a party's earning capacity:
(J) the tax consequences to each party;
(K) the standard of living of the parties established during the marriage;
(L) the reduced or lost earning capacity of the payee as a result of having
forgone or delayed education, training, employment or career opportunities
during the marriage;
(M) the equitable distribution of marital property and the income or imputed
income on the asserts so distributed;
(N) the contributions and services of the payee as a spouse, parent, wage
earner and homemaker and to the career or career potential of the other
party; and
(O) any other factor which the court shall expressly find to be just and proper.
In determining the duration of maintenance, the Court shall take into consideration
the anticipated retirement assets and the retirement eligibility of both
parties if ascertainable at the time of the decision.
Generally, the payment of spousal support is tax-deductible to the payor-spouse
and included in the income of the spouse receiving spousal support unless
the parties agree to make the spousal support non tax-deductible.
It is important to be aware that
Temporary maintenance and counsel fees for the spouse with less money may also be awarded at
any time during the divorce action. Based upon several factors, including
the difference in the income of the parties, this award may be ordered
to assure that each party has adequate representation. The court might
also consider which party should pay
child support, as well as the mortgage, utilities and other carrying charges.
Consult with a Long Island Divorce Lawyer
Maintenance is an issue that requires competent and skilled legal representation from a
Long Island family law attorney. When you work with a lawyer from our firm, whether as the party seeking
maintenance or the party who will be providing the financial support,
you can count on us to provide aggressive and vigorous representation
of your rights and interests. If your divorce involves a
posnuptial or
prenuptial agreement, we can also help
enforce the agreement.
Call us for a
free evaluation at (631) 777-7200.