Defend Your Rights To Fair Alimony/Spousal Support With A Seasoned Wisconsin Lawyer
Divorce creates immediate financial uncertainty and raises many questions about your stability for years to come. Will you receive enough support to maintain your lifestyle? What financial obligations will you have to your former spouse? At O'Neill Law Firm, we tackle these critical questions head-on.
With nearly 30 years of experience, our lead attorney, Sean O’Neill, has helped secure fair spousal support arrangements for families and individuals in La Crosse. Our team does not offer one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, we carefully analyze the specific circumstances of your divorce to pursue appropriate maintenance arrangements under Wisconsin family law.
Who Gets Spousal Support In Wisconsin?
Wisconsin courts do not automatically award spousal support in every divorce. Judges carefully review each case to determine whether one spouse requires financial support and whether the other can make the maintenance payments.
You might qualify for support payments if you earn much less money than your spouse, sacrificed your career during your marriage or need time to build your financial independence.
Courts also consider the following factors when making these decisions:
- Length of marriage: Longer marriages usually lead to higher spousal maintenance, particularly when one party has become dependent on the other’s income.
- Age and health: Courts look at your physical limits, ongoing health problems and how these issues affect your ability to work and earn a living.
- Education and employment history: This includes your work background, how long you have been out of the job market and future earning potential.
- Contributions to the marriage: This covers both financial and nonfinancial contributions, such as homemaking and childcare.
- Standard of living: The court aims to help both parties continue living at a level similar to their marital lifestyle.
Wisconsin offers several types of spousal support based on your needs. Temporary alimony provides financial help while your divorce moves forward. Rehabilitative support gives you time to learn new job skills or complete your education. For longer marriages where one spouse cannot support themselves, courts may order permanent alimony.
As your alimony/spousal support attorney, Sean stands ready to present your specific situation to the court and fight for the financial stability you need after your divorce.