Two Rivers Law P.A.

CALL US FOR YOUR FREE CONSULTATION

763.575.7911

Experienced. Local. Effective

Representing Individuals And Businesses For More Than 10 Years

Two Rivers Law P.A.

CALL US FOR YOUR FREE CONSULTATION

763.575.7911

Experienced. Local. Effective
Representing Individuals And Businesses For More Than 10 Years

Who Is Entitled To Spousal Maintenance?

After the marriage, and sometimes during the divorce, one spouse may be unable to support himself or herself. If the other spouse has sufficient income to cover his or her own needs and contribute to support of the other spouse, he or she may be required to pay “spousal maintenance,” formerly known as “alimony.” According to the spousal maintenance laws in Minnesota, either the husband or the wife may be entitled to support.

To speak with an attorney, call Two Rivers Law P.A. in Otsego for a free consultation about your case at 763.575.7911.

Temporary Vs. Permanent Spousal Maintenance

Spousal maintenance may be “temporary,” meaning payable for a set amount of time, typically long enough for the recipient to retrain for a new job, finish school or just get back on their feet without contribution from the other spouse. Otherwise, spousal maintenance is “permanent,” meaning it lasts for an indefinite amount of time. Rarely is “permanent” spousal maintenance truly permanent. It still ceases when the recipient remarries, dies, or the court terminates or modifies the payment due to some other change in circumstances.

How Is The Amount Of Spousal Maintenance Determined?

Determining whether, how much, and for how long spousal maintenance should be paid can be difficult. Unlike child support, there is no statutory formula in Minnesota. The court must decide whether one spouse needs support and whether the other spouse has sufficient income or assets to provide it. This is typically done by comparing each spouse’s income and assets to their expenses.

If one spouse cannot pay his or her reasonable expenses, and the other spouse is able to meet his or her own expenses and still contribute to the other spouse, then the court will consider the duration of marriage, the parties’ standard of living, their ages, their health, and a number of other factors to determine what is fair. Reasonable minds may differ about that, and two different judges may arrive at very different decisions on the same set of facts. For these reasons, people frequently find a way to settle disputes over spousal maintenance.

Make An Appointment For A Free Consultation

At Two Rivers Law P.A., our lawyer has experience on both sides of this dispute, in settlement, trial, and at the appellate level. If spousal maintenance is an issue in your divorce case, call us today at 763.575.7911 for a free consultation, or send us an email. We work with clients throughout the northwest metro area as well as Elk River. We’ll help you fight to retain your financial independence.