Alimony, also known as spousal support, is a critical aspect of divorce proceedings. In Texas, alimony is not common or automatically granted, but it may be awarded under certain circumstances.
Qualifying for Alimony in Texas
Alimony, also known as spousal support, is a payment made by one spouse to another during or after a divorce. It is meant to help the financially disadvantaged spouse maintain their standard of living.
In Texas, there are certain qualifications that must be met in order to receive alimony:
- The marriage must have lasted for at least 10 years.
- One spouse must have experienced domestic abuse or been convicted of a crime that resulted in divorce.
- The spouse seeking alimony must lack sufficient property to provide for their minimum needs.
- The spouse seeking alimony cannot earn enough income to meet their minimum needs due to a physical or mental disability or because they are caring for a child with disabilities.
If these qualifications are met, the court will then consider factors such as the spouses' respective incomes and earning potentials, education levels, and contributions to the marriage when determining the amount and duration of alimony.
That said, alimony is not commonly awarded in Texas, and it’s not easy to convince the court that you meet the above criteria. It’s also important to note that Texas does not have a set formula for calculating alimony, so even if you do get an alimony order, it may not be as substantial as you imagined.
Contact a Lawyer for Help
Because there can be a lot of tall hurdles to clear to achieve alimony in Texas, you should only trust an experienced divorce attorney for help. Someone with many years of experience, like our lawyers at Rodriguez & Gimbert, P.L.L.C., can provide the dedicated legal support you require.
Request an initial consultation with us. Get started now by sending us a message.