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Seattle | Bellevue | Everett

Washington Spousal Support Attorneys

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(206) 624-9605 - Seattle

(425) 455-4646 - Bellevue

(425) 953-4337 - Everett

Need information about spousal maintenance in Washington State?

Looking for a good Washington spousal support attorney?

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Washington spousal support or spousal maintenance is actually one of the more complicated areas of Washington State divorce law. Although the relevant statute provides some guidance on the issue, judges have actually have incredibly wide discretion in awarding maintenance.

Our Washington spousal support and alimony attorneys are intimately familiar with the divorce laws of Washington state governing maintenance. More importantly, we understand how judges view each situation individually. If you have questions about whether or not spousal support is appropriate in your case, we encourage you to call our offices.

One of our Washington State spousal maintenance and divorce lawyers will be happy to discuss your case and help you to understand your legal rights and options.

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Experienced Washington spousal maintenance attorneys fighting for you!

When a couple separates the Court may, in some cases, the award maintenance. Washington Courts favor rehabilitative maintenance. This maintenance is meant to help the other party to get back on their feet. RCW 26.09.090 lays out the factors that the Court will consider when determining if maintenance should be awarded.

The Court considers the financial resources of each of the parties; the time necessary to acquire education, employment or financial stability; the standard of living established during the marriage, the duration of the marriage; and the age, physical and emotional condition of each party as well as the financial obligations of the parties.

What are the main factors in awarding Washington spousal maintenance?

One of the main factors that the Court considers is the length of the marriage or relationship. Generally speaking, if a couple is together 5 years or less then it is unlikely that the Court will order maintenance. This is considered a short term relationship. If the parties have been together for more than 5 years the Court is more likely to consider maintenance.

Another of the main factors considered is the need of the party requesting the maintenance. The Court will require a full financial picture of the parties, including but not limited to, a detailed financial budget, paystubs, bank statements, current debts and liquid assets available to the parties for living expenses.

The main key words you will likely hear in Court will be the requesting party’s “need for maintenance” and the paying party’s “ability to pay.” The Court frowns upon a party becoming voluntarily unemployed in an attempt to gain or avoid paying maintenance and will likely impute your income to be what it was prior to the unemployment.

Are there any "real rules" to the awarding of alimony in Washington State?

There is no hard and fast rule or formula that the Court uses for ordering maintenance. The Court looks at the “big picture” and factors established by the law to determine how much and how long maintenance is appropriate in any given situation.

The Court may also consider if the person requesting the maintenance has children to provide a stable living environment for. The Court may award short term maintenance on a temporary basis during the pendency of the divorce or separation or it may award maintenance on a longer term basis after the final orders have been entered.

If the Court has already made an award of maintenance that award can only be modified if a substantial change of circumstances has already occurred. Unless other provided for in the decree maintenance will terminate upon the remarriage or registration of a domestic partnership of the party receiving maintenance or the death of either party.

Washington Spousal Maintenance Attorneys

Call today to learn more about your options.