What is the difference between spouse and partner support?

In Washington, spousal support law recognizes two different types of support: spousal support and partner support. Spousal support is awarded to an ex-spouse who has ended a marriage or a domestic partnership that has lasted longer than five years. In order to be eligible for spousal support, a married couple must have been legally married in the state of Washington, or have been in a state-registered domestic partnership for at least five years. On the other hand, partner support is given to members of a domestic partnership who have been together for fewer than five years and are not married. The main difference between spousal and partner support is that spousal support is usually higher and longer lasting than partner support. This is because spousal support is designed to help an ex-spouse who has been married for a long time to be able to maintain the standard of living they might have had in the relationship. Partner support, on the other hand, is intended to be more short-term, and is typically only awarded for a couple of years. Another difference between the two is that spousal support is typically not modifiable, meaning that the amount of support paid won’t change over time, while partner support can often be modified based on changes in the recipient’s or payer’s incomes. Both spousal and partner support are available in Washington, but the type of support depends on the length and type of relationship that you had. It is important to understand the differences between the two so that you can make the best decision when it comes to spousal or partner support.

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What is the difference between spouse and partner support?

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