Oklahoma City Law Firm Of Brown & Gould

Oklahoma City Alimony Attorneys

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Alimony, also known as spousal support, may be awarded during a divorce. Neither spouse has a legal right to receive alimony, but judges may find spousal support for one of the individuals is necessary to solve a financial disparity between the parties. At Brown & Gould, PLLC, we understand that alimony can be a contentious topic during a divorce. It is important that you work with an attorney who will help you get the resolution you want – whether that is receiving spousal support or avoiding this financial obligation. Our experienced lawyers will advocate your position and fight to win what is best for you and your family.

You may hear the terms alimony, spousal support, and maintenance thrown around. They do not always mean the same thing. There are a few types of alimony Oklahoma judges can order during a divorce. If you have any questions regarding the types of alimony, call Brown & Gould, PLLC today for help.

Temporary Spousal Maintenance

Under Oklahoma law, a judge can order temporary spousal support for the duration of the divorce. One spouse pays what is known as spousal maintenance to the other until the date of the financial divorce judgement.

Property Division Alimony

Property division alimony relates to the division of property between the parties. The court may award property alimony if one spouse has a disproportionate amount of real or personal property compared to the other. This payment is not modifiable and is meant to offset the difference in property ownership. The goal of the law is to ensure the total division of property between the individuals is just and reasonable.

Oklahoma Spousal Alimony

Oklahoma courts can award support alimony, which is what most people think of when they hear the term “alimony.” It is a lump-sum or monthly payment made from one party to another.

Alimony is never a guarantee during a divorce. The spouses can decide on spousal support themselves, including the amount to be paid and for how long. However, if it is up to the court to decide, an Oklahoma judge will look at certain factors before deciding if one spouse should have a financial obligation toward the other for a period of time. The most important factors are whether one spouse is in need of alimony and whether the other spouse can afford to pay it. The judge will also look at the length of the marriage and how well the parties can support themselves.

Spouses can have strong opinions about alimony when they enter a divorce. One spouse may request spousal alimony while another wants to avoid such an obligation. The attorneys of Brown & Gould, PLLC can argue any position and will push for a beneficial outcome for their client.

Duration of Alimony

While spouses can agree to lifelong alimony, Oklahoma courts must provide a duration for the payments. Short-term alimony may be awarded to enable one spouse to transition after the divorce. Long-term alimony may be awarded after a lengthy marriage and when one spouse needs a more significant amount of time to become self-sufficient.

The paying spouse cannot ask for alimony to end early. But if there is a significant change in circumstances, the paying spouse can return to court and ask for a modification of the alimony payments.

Alimony can also end when the receiving spouse remarries or cohabitates with a new partner.

Oklahoma Judge’s Discretion

There is no specific formula for how much alimony a party can receive. The judge has total discretion in awarding alimony, the amount, and the duration. The judge merely needs to provide a total sum amount, which is paid at one time or usually in monthly installments until complete.

It is crucial to have an attorney represent you during your divorce because the judge has so much discretion regarding alimony. You will need someone to aggressively and effectively argue your point for you. The experienced attorneys of Brown & Gould, PLLC understand how to help you either receive spousal support or avoid such an obligation.

An Oklahoma City Alimony Attorney Can Help

Alimony can become a difficult issue during a divorce that makes a rough road even rockier. However, the skilled divorce attorneys of Brown & Gould, PLLC know how to handle requests for alimony, whether you are the potential payee or payor.

To discuss alimony during your divorce, call Brown & Gould, PLLC at 405-235-4500 or contact us online.

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Areas We Serve

Brown & Gould, PLLC,
136 NW 10th Street
Suite 200
,
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Phone: 405-235-4500
Fax: 405-235-4507    
The Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, law office of Brown & Gould, PLLC, serves the nearby cities of Moore, Norman, Edmond, Nichols Hills, Midwest City, Del City, Yukon, Mustang, El Reno, Shawnee, Tulsa and other areas, including Oklahoma County, Cleveland County, Canadian County, McClain County, Pottawatomie County, Tulsa County, Logan County and throughout the state of Texas in the cities of Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso and Austin.