In Texas, dependent spouses may be awarded spousal maintenance (alimony) from their ex when they get divorced -- but that alimony is conditional. If the dependent spouse remarries, the spousal maintenance will end.
Should you look for work even if you ask for spousal maintenance?
In Texas, spousal maintenance ("alimony") is far from a given. That makes it smart to understand what can influence the court to either grant or deny your petition.
Can you renegotiate a prenuptial agreement?
When you got married, your intended asked for a prenuptial agreement. You weren't surprised. You were marrying someone of significant means, and they had a lot that they wanted to protect. Maybe they'd even been burned in the past by a former relationship. The terms seemed fair enough, so you signed.
What happens to your spousal support when you meet someone new?
The spousal support that you receive following your divorce is important to your security. This is why you need to understand what can happen if you start living with someone.
Spousal support in Texas: What it means
After a marriage ends, spousal support in Texas is not a guarantee. Even then, it is limited to whatever is necessary to provide for the receiving spouse's minimum basic needs.
Alimony and how the court decides if it is required
There are many issues to consider when a Houston couple chooses to get a divorce. One of the most common to arise is the possibility that one former spouse will be ordered to pay support to the other. The question is whether the recipient is entitled to it.
Can you maintain control over your finances during a divorce?
As soon as you recognize that your marriage is headed down the path of a divorce in Texas, it is imperative that you begin immediately to make strategic and wise financial decisions. Procrastinating the process of analyzing your finances and making needed changes can contribute to years of ongoing financial insecurity related to your divorce.
Can I get alimony if we were not formally married?
Like many other Texas residents, you may have had a long-term relationship with someone without having been formally married. Some states recognize common law marriage, which can give couples certain legal protections during their relationship and after they split up. In common law marriage states, property division and other matters are treated much the same way as divorce among legally married people.
Can I qualify for permanent alimony?
Alimony laws in Texas and elsewhere can be complicated and emotional. Many people believe the concept of spousal support to be outdated and unfair to the paying party. On the other hand, those who did not work during the marriage or earn significantly less than their ex-spouse may need to receive spousal support until they become self-sufficient. You may wonder how long you are entitled to alimony, as well as whether you can receive it indefinitely.
Shift in who pays alimony seen in study
There was a time when getting divorced almost automatically meant a husband would be paying alimony to a former wife. Today, however, spousal support may or may not be part of a Texas couple's divorce agreement. Changing social roles and even the new tax code are contributing to some new trends when it comes to agreements surrounding spousal support.
