Legal Guidance From A Spousal Support Attorney In Houston
Financial security is a primary concern when your marriage ends. You worry about maintaining your lifestyle, paying your bills and protecting your independence.
Since 1985, our spousal support attorney at The DeRose Law Firm has provided steady family law guidance to Houston residents. We understand that spousal support is about more than money; it is about your stability and your ability to move forward. We provide the experienced advocacy you need to ensure a fair spousal support arrangement.
Types, Eligibility And Duration Of Spousal Support In Texas
Texas law provides two distinct paths for receiving financial help after a marriage ends. Contractual alimony is an agreement you and your spouse negotiate privately. This option offers maximum flexibility because you can decide the payment amounts and the end date without following strict state laws.
Court-ordered spousal maintenance is different. This is a legal safety net designed for specific, high-need situations where a spouse cannot meet their basic, reasonable needs.
To qualify for court-ordered support, you generally must prove you cannot meet your basic needs. Most cases require a marriage that lasted at least ten years.
However, there are exceptions if family violence occurred or if a spouse or child has a disability. The length of time you receive support usually depends on the length of the marriage.
Payments can last for five, seven or ten years, depending on your specific situation. You may also request temporary support to cover your expenses while your divorce is still moving through the Houston courts.
Calculating Spousal Support Amounts
Texas law sets a strict legal limit on how much support a judge can order. Monthly payments cannot exceed $5,000 or 20% of the paying spouse’s average monthly earnings.
Judges look at many factors to decide the specific amount. They consider the following factors:
- Education
- Health
- Employment history
- Earning capability
- If one spouse stayed home to care for children or supported the other through school
- If one spouse committed misconduct during the marriage
If a spouse intentionally avoids work to lower their payments, the court may still order support based on their earning potential.
Modifying Or Terminating Spousal Support
Support orders are not always permanent. You can ask the court to change the amount if a significant change in circumstances occurs. For example, a job loss or a serious illness might justify a modification.
Support typically ends automatically if the receiving spouse gets remarried or moves in with a romantic partner. It also ends if either person passes away.
If your former spouse stops making payments, we will help you enforce the order. We will fight to ensure you receive the funds the law promised you.
Secure Your Finances After A Divorce With The DeRose Law Firm
We are a boutique firm that values quality over volume. Attorney Dominick DeRose offers forty years of experience, and our senior paralegal, Linda, adds twenty-six years of institutional knowledge. Our team is invested deeply in our clients’ stories and provides the personal attention they deserve. Call us today at 281-815-2619 or complete this form to learn how we can help.