Louisville Spousal Support Lawyer

When a couple seeks a divorce in Louisville, one of the major areas of concern is that of spousal support, called maintenance in Kentucky. Whether you are the spouse adjusting to single life and a single income, or you are the spouse who may be required to make spousal support payments, hire a Louisville spousal support lawyer to ensure your rights are protected. These legal situations can be confusing and tense, and you need experienced counsel by your side.

Work with Straw-Boone Doheny Banks Mudd Catalano & McKinney, PLLC

For over three decades, the team at Straw-Boone Doheny Banks Mudd Catalano & McKinney, PLLC has been helping families through a wide range of family law matters, including cases of spousal support. We are here to come alongside you, review your unique financial situation, and help determine the amount of support that may come into play. We have extensive experience representing clients in Jefferson County and throughout the state, and are now here to serve you.

We pride ourselves on offering competent and compassionate legal counsel and representation, no matter the difficulties involved in your case. Our team is known across Kentucky and Southern Indiana for our excellence and experience when it comes to family law matters, and many of our lawyers are members of the Kentucky Bar Association and the Louisville Bar Association.

Understanding Spousal Support in Louisville

The state of Kentucky sees a divorce rate of around 2,9 per 1,000 residents. Interestingly, our state has typically had a higher divorce rate than most of the country. However, according to the Wall Street Journal, the divorce rate has recently plunged in our state and dropped by about 25% overall.

Currently, in the United States, around 7% of fathers and 26% of mothers stay home and do not work for pay. When a divorce is initiated, it is only natural for the spouse who has spent more time at home and less time earning an income to seek spousal support, especially in high-income households.

In Kentucky, there are three main forms of spousal support available. These include the following:

• Temporary support. This kind of support is typically only available while the divorce is still being processed. In many long-term marriages, one spouse may have heavily depended on the other as the primary breadwinner and therefore relied on them to provide the money necessary for everyday expenses. This spouse may need support while the divorce is ongoing to try to meet their financial needs and adjust to their new circumstances.
• Rehabilitative or short-term support. This kind of support is meant to provide financial support to the lower-earning spouse while they either get a degree or receive specialized job training to work toward earning sufficient income to support themselves. This form of support is only available during the time when the lower-earning spouse is receiving the education or training necessary.
• Permanent support. Permanent, or long term, spousal support may be awarded in long-term marriages or in cases in which one spouse has a disability or is unable to join the workforce.

In Kentucky, there are several factors that will likely play into the court’s decision when determining the type and amount of spousal support to award the requesting spouse. These factors include:

• The length of the marriage
• The financial resources that are available to each spouse both before and after assets are divided
• The standard of living that each spouse grew accustomed to during the marriage
• The age and emotional and physical well-being of the spouse requesting support
• The ability of the paying spouse to pay the requested support
• The time it will take for the spouse requesting support to find employment or become self-supporting
• The contributions of each spouse to the household and the earning potential or education of the other

Once the court determines that a support order is necessary, it will review these factors to decide how much the support payments should be and how long they should last. The higher the income of the supporting spouse, the more support the lower-earning spouse may be able to receive, and the longer the marriage, the longer support payments may last.

Eligibility Requirements for Kentucky Spousal Support

The reality is that just because one spouse hopes to receive spousal support or petitions the courts for support, it does not mean they will automatically be awarded the support. In fact, there is a great amount of judicial discretion in the award of maintenance, which is why you need an attorney who can advocate for your rights and interests to secure the necessary support.

When a judge goes about making their decision regarding maintenance, there are several factors they may take into account when determining if someone is eligible for support. These factors include:

• The individual requesting support does not have the mental or physical ability to provide for themselves by either finding a job or seeking a career and higher education
• The spouse who is requesting support does not have sufficient income or salary of their own with which to support themselves
• The spouse who is requesting support does not have sufficient income or salary of their own with which to support themselves
• The individual requesting support is also caring for one or more children in a way that makes it impossible for them to seek employment outside of the home

At Straw-Boone Doheny Banks Mudd Catalano & McKinney, PLLC, our attorneys can review your circumstances and help determine if you or your spouse is eligible for seeking monetary support during or following your divorce.

Hire a Spousal Support Lawyer Today

A divorce raises many challenges, and it is important that you hire a spousal support lawyer who can provide you with the answers and solutions you need. We understand how difficult it can be to face legal matters involving finances, especially for high-income couples.

Whether you are hoping to receive spousal support or may be required to pay, the team at Straw-Boone Doheny Banks Mudd Catalano & McKinney, PLLC, is here to advocate for you. Contact our offices today.