What are the qualifications for alimony in California?
In Texas, alimony is known as “spousal maintenance.” Spousal maintenance is a court-ordered payment from one spouse to the other to help provide support after a divorce. To qualify for spousal maintenance, the marriage must have lasted for 10 years or more, and one of the spouses must lack sufficient property, including separate property, to provide for their minimum reasonable needs. A court may also consider the age and health of both spouses, the current employment and earning capacity of the spouses, and any history of family violence in making a determination for spousal maintenance. In addition, the court may consider the spouses’ roles during the marriage, including educational levels, the duration of the marriage, and any other benefits received during the marriage, such as military or disability benefits. The court may also consider whether the spouse seeking maintenance will be able to support themselves through suitable employment, or if they will need further education or training to do so. In general, the length of spousal maintenance is tied to the duration of the marriage: for marriages that lasted 10-14 years, spousal maintenance will be for five years or less; for marriages lasting 15-20 years, spousal maintenance will be for seven years or less; and for marriages that lasted 20+ years, spousal maintenance may last for up to 10 years or less. Additionally, the court retains the right to modify or discontinue the spousal maintenance payments if the circumstances of either spouse changes.
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Is there a formula for calculating alimony awards?
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