Spousal Maintenance in Minnesota
Whether you call it alimony, spousal support or spousal maintenance, determining how much one spouse should pay the other after a divorce can be difficult. Although some couples are able to agree on support amounts by using alternative dispute resolution techniques, others find it challenging to arrive at the right allocation.
At our Minnetonka, Minnesota, law firm of Beckman & Steen, we help clients obtain or pay fair spousal support after a divorce or separation. Our attorneys understand the factors the court uses when calculating spousal support. Our goal is to help clients arrive at an amount that is mutually agreeable before the court becomes involved. We recommend collaboration or mediation to accomplish this if the parties are unable to agree. There may be cases which demand court involvement and our attorneys are well prepared to proceed to the courtroom.
Factors Considered in Maintenance Awards
We begin by reviewing the factors the court uses when establishing an alimony amount. These include:
- The length of the marriage
- Assets, debts and income of the person seeking maintenance and the ability of the other party to pay
- The education and training level of the person requesting maintenance
- The standard of living during the marriage
These and other issues go into determining how much maintenance/alimony is to be paid or received. Our lawyers are creative and are often able to help clients find ways around tough spousal maintenance issues. Divorcing spouses can then develop maintenance proposals that are acceptable to both parties and to the court.
Types of Maintenance
There are times when permanent maintenance is not appropriate. It may be possible to obtain a temporary maintenance order (sometimes called rehabilitative maintenance) that helps one spouse get the education and training necessary to obtain suitable employment. This type of maintenance ends or is reduced when the spouse seeking maintenance becomes self-supporting.
Permanent maintenance continues indefinitely, but can be modified if there are significant changes in the circumstances of one of the parties. Our attorneys often advocate for modifications after job loss, illness or other changes that may affect the parties' needs or ability to pay.
To learn how we can assist you with contested issues around spousal maintenance, call to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced attorneys today.
