Is spousal support different if the couple is not legally married?

Yes, spousal support is different if the couple is not legally married in Washington. This is because in Washington, spousal support is only available to individuals who are married. This means that if a couple is not legally married, they cannot receive spousal support from the other person. Even though a couple is not legally married, they may still be eligible for certain types of financial support from the other person. This type of support is not technically referred to as spousal support. Instead, it is often referred to as maintenance. Maintenance is financial support that one person gives to another for a certain purpose, such as for living expenses or to assist with medical bills. Washington does not require a legal marriage to provide maintenance. Whether a couple is legally married or not, the law in Washington still requires that the person who has a higher income give financial support to the other person. For example, if one of the partners earns significantly more than the other, the court may order that the high-earning partner pay a certain amount of money to the other partner to help them with their living expenses and other costs. Generally speaking, if a couple is not legally married, they do not have the same rights as those who are legally married when it comes to spousal support. However, there are other forms of financial support that may be available in Washington to those who are not legally married.

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