Arlington Alimony Attorney

Assisting Clients With Alimony Matters in Texas

Alimony, also known as spousal support, is a court-ordered payment that one spouse makes to the other after a divorce. The purpose of alimony is to help the lower-earning spouse maintain the same standard of living they enjoyed during the marriage. Alimony is not awarded in every divorce case, and the amount and duration of alimony payments can vary widely.

At the Law Offices of Mark M. Childress, we understand how important alimony is to your financial future. Our Arlington alimony lawyer can help you understand your rights and options when it comes to alimony. We can also help you seek a fair and favorable alimony arrangement in your divorce.

For the legal guidance you need, call our alimony attorney in Arlington at (817) 497-8148 or contact us online today.

What is Alimony?

Alimony, also known as spousal support, refers to the financial support paid by one spouse to another after a divorce or separation. Its purpose is to help the spouse who earns less income maintain a standard of living similar to what they had during the marriage. In Texas, alimony is referred to as "spousal maintenance."

In Texas, there are different types of spousal maintenance, each with its own conditions and eligibility criteria:

• Temporary spousal maintenance: This type of support can be awarded while the divorce is pending and ends once the divorce is finalized. It aims to provide financial assistance to the spouse in need during the divorce process.
• Contractual alimony: Couples have the option to agree on alimony terms in a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement. These agreements outline the amount, duration, and conditions of alimony payments.
• Court-ordered spousal maintenance: If the couple cannot agree on alimony, a court may order spousal maintenance based on specific criteria outlined in Texas law. Factors such as the duration of the marriage, the ability of one spouse to pay, and the financial needs of the other spouse are considered.

The court typically considers various factors when deciding whether to award spousal maintenance in Texas, including the length of the marriage, each spouse's ability to support themselves, any history of family violence, and whether the requesting spouse has a disability or caregiving responsibilities that affect their ability to earn a living.

It's essential to note that spousal maintenance in Texas is not always guaranteed. The court assesses each case individually based on the circumstances presented before making a decision.

Modifying Or Ending Alimony Orders 

Life often changes after a divorce, and an alimony order that once made sense may no longer be fair or workable. If you lose a job, see a significant change in income, or your former spouse remarries or becomes self-supporting, you may be able to ask the court to modify or terminate spousal maintenance. Understanding when a change in circumstances is significant enough to return to court can help you decide whether to seek a formal adjustment rather than trying to manage an arrangement that no longer fits your situation.

In Texas, a judge will usually look for a material and continuing change in circumstances before granting a modification to an existing support order. This might include a substantial increase or decrease in either party’s income, serious health problems that affect the ability to work, or major shifts in the needs of children that change each parent’s financial responsibilities. An alimony lawyer can help you gather pay stubs, tax returns, medical records, and other documents that clearly show the changes since the original order was entered.

If you and your former spouse disagree about whether support should be reduced, increased, or ended, it can be important to present your position clearly and respectfully to the court that issued the original order, such as a Tarrant County family court serving Arlington residents. We can help you evaluate whether a modification request is likely to be considered, prepare the necessary filings, and represent you in negotiations or hearings so that your rights and obligations are accurately reflected in any new alimony arrangement.