California holds the undesirable record as the most expensive state for getting a divorce. This may be the first price tag you get, but it isn’t likely to be the last. Fortunately, you may be able to get help on the other side, depending on the circumstances.
Those with children are paying an average of $26,300 to go through the divorce process. That might not leave a lot left over for covering daily expenses and getting back to work. Bouncing back from divorce financially can take some time, and spousal support can help you get there.
Approaching the benchmarks
No two divorces are exactly the same, so the judge will likely approach the matter with a few key points to help determine the amount of support:
- Living standards: How you lived during your marriage can have a big impact on the help a judge might award. They’ll likely steer away from an amount that would debilitate your partner, but try to keep you close to married life.
- Earning capacity: If you’ve been out of the workforce for some time, it could take a while to get back on your feet. You could receive some help getting there when the judge takes a look at your marketable skills. The strength of the applicable job market, training to get you up to speed and how much the time off impacted your earning ability could all affect how much you’ll receive.
- Marriage length: How long you were married could influence how long you get support, with longer duration often meaning longer support. Going out past 10 years could mean that you won’t have an end date tacked on to your payment order. Periods of separation and when you and your partner decided to split ways could influence the timeline, but the judge will have the discretion to consider those.
Getting the financial help you need after a divorce could be yours, but the amount will rely on the qualifiers. Understanding how the courts determine the amount is a good first step to getting the support you need.
