Navigating the intricacies of spousal maintenance, also known as spousal support or alimony, can be challenging. This post will guide you through the specifics of spousal maintenance in Texas, focusing on situations involving marriages that have lasted over 10 years. We’ll use a recent case study to illustrate how these laws are applied in real-life scenarios.
What is Spousal Maintenance?
Spousal maintenance is a financial obligation that one spouse may be required to pay to the other following a divorce. In Texas, a court may order spousal maintenance under certain conditions, as stipulated in the Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 8.051.
Eligibility for Spousal Maintenance in Texas
A crucial factor for spousal maintenance eligibility is the length of the marriage. In Texas, if a marriage has lasted at least 10 years, a court may order spousal maintenance if one spouse lacks sufficient property or earning capacity to meet their minimum reasonable needs. This is particularly relevant in cases where one spouse has been out of the workforce for a significant period or has a lower earning capacity.
A Case Study on Spousal Maintenance in Texas
To better understand how these laws function, let’s look at a recent case. In this instance, a wife filed for divorce after nearly thirteen years of marriage. The trial court ordered the husband to pay $2,500 in monthly spousal support for two years. The husband appealed this decision, arguing that the wife had been awarded enough property to meet her reasonable minimum needs. Read more about the case here.
The Court’s Decision
The appeals court evaluated whether the wife had sufficient property to meet her minimum reasonable needs. After accounting for liabilities and the value of certain assets, the court found that the wife still had property worth $414,081.98. This amount was deemed enough to cover about five years of her monthly expenses. Consequently, the appeals court ruled that the evidence did not support the need for spousal maintenance to meet the wife’s minimum reasonable needs. The maintenance award was considered an abuse of the trial court’s discretion, and the decree was modified to remove the spousal maintenance award.
Key Takeaways
This case highlights the importance of thoroughly assessing the financial circumstances of both parties in a divorce. While spousal maintenance is appropriate in some cases, it is not automatically granted. The spouse seeking maintenance must generally demonstrate that they lack sufficient property or earning ability to meet their minimum reasonable needs.
Whether you are seeking or opposing spousal maintenance, it’s crucial to have an experienced attorney by your side. The Blacknall Firm is here to help. Contact us today to set up a consultation.
