Spousal Support Guidelines

Spousal support guidelines are established methods used by courts to determine if one spouse should receive financial assistance from the other after separation or divorce. These guidelines consider factors like the duration of the marriage, each spouse’s income, earning capacity, and financial needs. The goal is to promote fairness by helping a lower-earning spouse maintain a standard of living similar to during the marriage, while also encouraging self-sufficiency. They serve as a starting point for negotiations and decisions, ensuring that support arrangements are consistent, reasonable, and justified based on the specific circumstances.