What is spousal maintenance in a NY divorce?

Contact Us Today!
 

There are a number of different factors that must be addressed in any divorce that occurs in New York State. Spousal maintenance, also referred to as alimony, is no different. Spousal maintenance is when one spouse is ordered to provide financial support for their ex-spouse after a divorce for a number of reasons. In a lot of situations, one spouse does not agree with what the other party deserves and it may result in a hotly contested battle in the courtroom.

Once it is determined that alimony is necessary (sometimes, it is not), the court will look at the length of the marriage to determine how long the party should be responsible for paying.

In New York, spousal maintenance can be ordered:

  • For 15 to 30% of a marriage that lasted 15 years or under
  • For 30 to 40% of a marriage that lasted between 16 to 20 years
  • For 35 to 50% of a marriage that lasted 20 years or more

The court will also take a number of different factors into consideration when assessing how much the payor should be responsible for providing to the dependent spouse. This may include the earning potential, their education, their ability to obtain work, and obligations to family members, among many other factors.

People also sometimes believe that if their spouse cheated on them, the court will award them more support. However, spousal maintenance does not work this way. This is generally not the case and your spouse’s adultery will have little impact on your divorce if any. This is only relevant if marital funds were spent on the affair.

If you have questions about alimony, contact our firm today.

Matters of divorce and family law should be navigated with the guidance of an experienced attorney. If you need strong legal representation regarding matters of divorce, family law, and estate law, contact the Law Offices of Susan A. Kassel, P.C. to schedule a consultation today. 

Why choose our firm?

We have an excellent AVVO rating from our many happy clients

We will tirelessly pursue a favorable resolution to your case

We offer aggressive and effective representation

We treat our clients with the compassion, patience, and respect that they deserve

We have more than 20 years of dedicated legal experience

We have the legal knowledge necessary to help you obtain the outcome you desire

We tailor our practice to the representation of your divorce case

What Our Clients Are Saying

I hired Susan to represent me in a divorce matter where I was fighting for custody and to limit my wife's equitable share of our assets. I won custody of our son, kept the marital residence, kept my professional practice, kept my building and paid less than half to my wife. This was after a long-term marriage. She could persuade the court that equitable is not equal and sometimes the man does deserve to win!

‐ Dave

I first must say that I had been represented by two prior attorneys both of whom had simply taken my money and left me nothing to show for it in my custody case. They kept telling me what they were doing for me but I found out they were lying. Susan on the other hand had gotten me temporary custody and support for my children and myself within two months of hiring her. I cannot say enough about her.

‐ Craig

After talking to a few other attorneys, I hired Susan to represent me in my divorce and custody dispute. I was reluctant to go with her because she was the cheapest out of all the other attorneys I met with, but I'm so glad I did. I am 100% positive no one else would have done such a great job with my case as Susan and her staff. Her work is quality, her staff is reliable and her character is honorable. There...

‐ Linda

I had a very difficult case where I had already burned through two attorneys who were unable to get me custody of my children and complete my divorce. Susan was able to rapidly work out an agreement and not let it just malinger on like my previous experiences. She was also considerate of my financial situation unlike all of the other lawyers I had spoken to. I highly recommend her if you want complete and caring service with an in-depth knowledge of...

‐ Joanne

SERVING ALL OF SUFFOLK COUNTY

The Law Offices of Susan A. Kassel, P.C. proudly serves clients throughout Suffolk County, New York in their divorce, family law, and estate planning matters. If you require the services of an experienced Suffolk County attorney, schedule a consultation with The Law Offices of Susan A. Kassel, P.C. today.

Recent Blogs

VIEW MORE

Contact Us Today!