Spousal Support Lawyers in Los Angeles
Divorce can be both emotionally painful and financially uncertain—especially when one spouse has relied on the other for financial support during the marriage. In Los Angeles County, one of the most complex and contested aspects of divorce is spousal support, also known as alimony.
At The Sands Law Group, APLC, we understand how critical spousal support decisions are to your future. Whether you’re seeking fair support or being asked to pay, our experienced Los Angeles spousal support attorneys, led by Thomas Sands, are here to guide you through this process with clarity and confidence.
Spousal support involves more than just determining a monthly payment. It affects your long-term financial stability and is based on several factors, including the length of the marriage, each party’s earning capacity, and their standard of living during the marriage. These cases can be complex, especially when emotions run high or when financial information is unclear or disputed.
Our legal team helps individuals across Los Angeles County understand their rights and obligations under California family law, ensuring that any support arrangement is fair, enforceable, and aligned with your future goals.
Spousal Support in Los Angeles
Spousal support, also known as alimony, is a court-ordered financial arrangement designed to assist a lower-earning or non-earning spouse after divorce. In California, this support is intended to help the supported spouse maintain a standard of living reasonably comparable to what was established during the marriage. While traditional alimony often involved one spouse (typically the wife) receiving payments after years of homemaking, modern spousal support reflects the diverse economic roles of both partners.
At The Sands Law Group, APLC, our Los Angeles spousal support attorneys are dedicated to helping clients across Los Angeles County understand their rights and secure fair support outcomes. Whether you are seeking to receive or expected to pay spousal support, we’ll work closely with you to negotiate a reasonable agreement—or fight for a just resolution in court if needed.
Led by founding attorney Thomas Sands, our experienced legal team brings professionalism, cultural sensitivity, and results-driven advocacy to every case. We believe skilled legal representation should be available to everyone, which is why we offer affordable legal services and communicate with clients in five languages: English, Spanish, French, Hebrew, and Arabic.
Whether you are navigating a contested divorce or exploring mediation, The Sands Law Group, APLC is here to ensure your financial interests are protected. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation with an experienced Los Angeles alimony lawyer.
What is Spousal Support in California
Spousal support comes in many forms and will vary depending on your state of residence:
Types of California Spousal Support
California recognizes four types of spousal support: temporary, rehabilitative, permanent, and reimbursement support.
Typically lasts from the date it is requested to the date that the divorce is finalized. During this period, the court mandates that the higher-earning spouse provide financial assistance to cover the lower-earning spouse’s cost of living. Unlike other forms of spousal support, the court calculates this amount using California’s child support guidelines.
Rehabilitative support is commonly awarded to single-income households in which one spouse worked at home without income. Rehabilitative support is sustained financial support paid to this spouse while they acquire new job skills or education. The court decides how long this support must be provided, taking into account the length of time it will take the supported spouse to gain new skills and find suitable employment.
Permanent support is relatively rare and is usually only awarded to couples who have been married for at least 10 years. If the lower-earning spouse is unable to support themselves due to old age or disability, a judge may require the higher-earning spouse to support them for the rest of their life or until they marry someone else who can provide for them.
Reimbursement support is unique to California. If one spouse helped pay for the other’s education or professional development, they may request reimbursement from the other spouse. In the court’s view, the paying spouse contributed to the other’s earning capacity, but will no longer benefit from that investment once the divorce is finalized. Therefore, they may request remuneration.
Factors Used to Determine Spousal Support in California
To qualify for spousal support, a couple must first prove that one spouse requires support and that the other spouse can afford to provide it. Once this is demonstrated, a California judge will consider the following factors when awarding rehabilitative and permanent support:Â
- The marriage length;
- The age and physical/emotional health of each spouse;
- Each spouse’s income and earning capacity;
- The marital standard of living, as well as the higher-earning spouse’s future independent standard of living;
- Each spouse’s assets and debts, as well as separate property;
- Any tax implications a divorce would have for each spouse;
- Any recorded history of domestic violence perpetrated by one spouse against the other, or against dependents, and any related criminal convictions; and
- The balance of hardships to each spouse. In divorce law, a hardship is any circumstance that negatively impacts a parent’s ability to financially support their children. Courts endeavor to avoid hardships at all costs and work to create a divorce settlement that is equitable in what it asks of each party. However, it is not uncommon for divorced spouses to re-enter legal negotiations about spousal support if an unforeseen circumstance creates a hardship after the divorce has been finalized.
How can a California spousal support attorney help you?
Hiring an experienced spousal support attorney in Los Angeles County can make a significant difference in the outcome of your divorce or legal separation—whether you’re requesting support or expected to pay it. Spousal support laws in California are complex, and attempting to navigate them alone can lead to costly mistakes or unfair outcomes.
At The Sands Law Group, APLC, our Los Angeles alimony attorneys, led by Thomas Sands, guide clients through every stage of the support process with clarity, professionalism, and personalized strategy.
Here’s how we can help:
- âś… Explain your legal rights and obligations as either the supporting or supported spouse under California law
- âś… Estimate the amount and duration of support based on key factors like marriage length, income disparity, and standard of living
- âś… Draft enforceable spousal support agreements that meet court requirements and protect your financial future
- âś… Prepare and file all necessary legal documents, ensuring accuracy and compliance with California Family Court procedures
- âś… Negotiate or mediate fair spousal support terms, avoiding unnecessary litigation when possible
- âś… Represent you in court, fighting for a fair outcome if an agreement cannot be reached outside of trial
- âś… Request modifications or termination of existing support orders when circumstances change
Working with a knowledgeable alimony attorney doesn’t mean you’re headed straight for court. In many cases, we help couples reach mutual agreements through mediation or collaborative negotiations—saving time, money, and stress. But when court becomes necessary, we’re ready to advocate aggressively on your behalf.
If you’re navigating spousal support in Los Angeles County, contact The Sands Law Group, APLC today for a free, confidential consultation with a trusted legal team who puts your financial future first.
How is spousal support calculated in California?
Spousal support, also known as alimony, is determined based on a number of factors set forth in California law. These factors include the length of the marriage, the earning capacity and needs of each party, and the standard of living established during the marriage, among other considerations.
Unlike child support, there is no formula for calculating spousal support in California. Rather, the court has broad discretion to consider all relevant factors and fashion a support award that is fair and reasonable in light of the circumstances. In some cases, the parties may agree to a spousal support amount and duration through negotiation or mediation.
The duration of spousal support in California is calculated based on several factors, including the length of the marriage, the age and health of each party, and the ability of the supported spouse to become self-supporting. In general, the longer the marriage and the greater the disparity in earning capacity between the parties, the longer the duration of support may be.
However, there is no set formula for determining the duration of spousal support in California. Instead, the court has broad discretion to consider all relevant factors and make a determination that is fair and reasonable under the circumstances. In some cases, spousal support may be ordered for a specific period of time, while in other cases it may be awarded indefinitely.
Frequently Asked Questions
To receive spousal support in California, the couple must demonstrate to the judge that one spouse needs support, and the other spouse can afford to provide it. The type and duration of spousal support awarded are highly subjective and depend on the specific circumstances of each case, including the factors mentioned above. In addition, the judge must take into account each person’s debts, any business ventures that the couple had together, and the terms outlined in any prenuptial agreements.
Once a supported spouse attains a job that will sufficiently support them or marries someone who can provide for them, they no longer qualify for spousal support.
Alimony is not guaranteed in the states of California or Hawaii. However, if a couple agrees upon alimony terms without court intervention, a judge will usually accept those terms. Once the court accepts or mandates an alimony contract, it is illegal for the supporting spouse not to pay. If you pay alimony and lose your job, your ability to work, or file for bankruptcy, you must continue to pay until you request a change to your alimony agreement and that change has been granted.
It is illegal not to pay alimony in both California and Hawaii. Supporting spouses must pay in full and on time. If you cannot pay alimony, you must request an alimony agreement modification from the court. You must continue to pay unless and until the court has accepted the requested modification.
Contact Our Los Angeles Spousal Support Lawyers
It’s undeniable that divorce is a difficult and stressful time in a couple’s life. The empathetic and experienced spousal support attorneys at The Sands Law Group, APLC, will work to minimize your hardship and make the transition to your new lives apart as smooth as possible. Contact our Los Angeles office today for a confidential consultation about your alimony case.
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