What Is Spousal Support (also known as Maintenance or Alimony)?
In many divorce proceedings, spousal support is a major focal point. This is particularly true when one spouse has been a stay-at-home parent and has not worked in recent years. While there are no set guidelines or requirements for spousal support in Missouri, that doesn’t mean that spouses are not entitled to seek it. It only means that a compelling case needs to be made no matter what side you are on in a maintenance case. Be sure that you have an experienced lawyer on your side who understands the law and will fight to protect your interests. At Stange Law Firm, PC, we represent clients throughout Missouri, Illinois, Kansas and Oklahoma in all types of spousal support matters. No matter which side of the case you are on, we are committed to doing everything in our power to secure the most favorable possible result on your behalf.Building the Strongest Possible Case to Support Your Position Maintenance in Missouri
Spousal support, sometimes referred to as spousal maintenance or alimony, is not automatic in Missouri. The court has broad discretion to award maintenance or not award it. If the court awards maintenance, in Missouri, limited duration maintenance is almost never awarded unless the court can point to a fixed date where maintenance is not needed. This means that in most instances, the court can either award maintenance in an open-ended manner terminable upon death, remarriage or a change of circumstance of a substantial and continuing nature or else not award it at all. This can make maintenance an all or nothing proposition at trial. Parties can agree to contractual maintenance on a fixed term, but fixed terms are not likely in Missouri, absent an agreement, unless the court can point to a future, non-speculative date where maintenance is no longer needed. The issue of whether “cohabitation” terminates maintenance is complex, not automatic and based on numerous factors. When you hire our firm, we will present the strongest possible case for or against an alimony award based on your best interests. In many cases, we will examine whether a vocational examination would be helpful to your case. The court looks at several factors when considering spousal support, including:- The need of one spouse versus the other spouse’s ability to pay
- The earning capacity of each spouse
- The length of the marriage
- The age and health of the spouse seeking support
- The impact on the children
- The conduct of the parties during the marriage
Handling Spousal Support in Kansas City, Missouri
To speak to an spousal support lawyer who can help you in Kansas City, MO, call us at 816-631-0307 or contact our law firm online. To learn more about the Jackson County Family Court, please visit the following links:- Kansas City, MO Family Court: Any additional information regarding the Jackson County family court can be found here.
- Kansas City, MO Local Court Rules: Wondering what all of the Jackson County court rules may be? Click here to take a look.
- Kansas City, MO Courthouse Directions: Do you need directions or a map of the Jackson County courthouse? Click on this link provided to help you out!
