Having the right lawyer will make a huge difference when it comes to spousal support. There are a number of ways courts will look at a family's financial portfolio to determine what is and what is not calculable for support purposes. A good lawyer will know how to ferret out all income available for support to ensure a maximum support recovery for the client. Skilled lawyering will also ensure that the courts do not include income that should not be calculated for support purposes when the lawyer represents the higher earning party.
Obtaining a spousal support award is a finesse skill. Although courts are allowed to use a computer program as a guide when calculating temporary spousal support awards, there is no statutorily mandated spousal support guideline that courts use when ordering temporary support. Instead, the courts look at the needs of the spouse seeking support and the ability to pay for the spouse from whom support is sought. As such, the lawyer’s advocacy skills play a critical role in setting an appropriate amount of spousal support in a given case. When the time comes to set permanent spousal support, either following trial or in a settlement agreement, the courts analyze a series of statutorily enumerated factors. These factors range from the length of the marriage to the health of the parties. You must chose an attorney with the skill to effectively persuade the court as to which factors apply in your case and how those factors influence your need for support or ability to pay support.
At Fuller Jenkins, we use a team approach in analyzing and advocating a support case. In addition to drawing from Mr. Jenkins’ years of experience in the family courts, Fuller Jenkins uses the analysis of financial consultants to put together a complete financial picture which is then presented to the court in the light most favorable to the client. In this way, Fuller Jenkins is able to make sure our clients receive the most favorable support orders available given the fact set in each particular case. |
