Divorce can directly affect each spouse’s financial future, and sometimes, spousal maintenance – or alimony – plays a key role. In Texas, alimony is reserved for those cases in which one spouse is left without the financial means necessary to cover their own minimum reasonable needs while the other has the financial ability to help. The determination process involves a wide range of legal intricacies, and working closely with an experienced Round Rock spousal maintenance attorney is always advised. 

When a Spouse Cannot Address Their Own Minimum Reasonable Needs

A primary determining factor when it comes to spousal maintenance orders in Texas is demonstrating that the spouse seeking the support is unable to meet their own minimum reasonable needs. The kinds of relevant factors that the court takes into consideration in these cases include all the following:

• Each spouse’s overall level of education and employability
• The financial resources available to each spouse after the fair division of their marital property
• The amount of time that the spouse seeking maintenance would need to become more financially independent through further education or job training, as well as the availability of these resources and the feasibility of the plan
• The current job market and available employment opportunities 

The length of the marriage and the age and overall physical and mental health of the spouse seeking support also play a role. 

Scenarios when Spousal Maintenance Applies in Round Rock

There are a few basic scenarios when spousal maintenance is more likely to apply in Texas divorce cases. 

The Marriage Lasted at Least 10 Years 

Generally, the marriage must have lasted at least 10 years in Texas before one spouse’s inability to support themselves financially warrants spousal support. There are, however, exceptions. 

The Paying Spouse Has a Family Violence Conviction

Another situation that can support a spousal maintenance order is when the paying spouse was convicted of family violence against the recipient or their child within two years of filing for divorce or while the divorce was pending. 

Extenuating Circumstances Apply 

When the spouse seeking spousal maintenance is unable to meet their own minimum reasonable needs as a result of an incapacitating physical or mental disability, alimony can be ordered. The same is true when the spouse seeking support is the primary caregiver for a child of the marriage who requires significant care due to a physical or mental disability. 

Discuss Your Case with an Experienced Round Rock Spousal Maintenance Lawyer Today

Brett Pritchard at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard is a seasoned Round Rock spousal maintenance attorney who appreciates the significance of alimony payments in relation to your case and to your financial future. These cases can be challenging, and it is always best to have legal guidance. We are committed to fiercely advocating for your financial rights in pursuit of a favorable case resolution that supports your best interests and brightest future. To learn more about what a lawyer can do to help you, please do not wait to reach out by contacting or calling us at 254-781-4222 today.