- Who is entitled to maintenance?
Maintenance may be ordered for either spouse in such amounts and for such periods of time as the court deems just, without regard to marital misconduct. - Is there a criteria that courts tend to look at when determining maintenance
awards?
Yes. Generally, courts consider the following non-exclusive list of factors in determining maintenance awards:- (a) The financial resources of the party seeking maintenance, including separate or community property apportioned to him, and his ability to meet his needs independently, including the extent to which a provision for support of a child living with the party includes a sum for that party;
- (b) The time necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party seeking maintenance to find employment appropriate to his skill, interests, style of life, and other attendant circumstances;
- (c) The standard of living established during the marriage;
- (d) The duration of the marriage;
- (e) The age, physical and emotional condition, and financial obligations of the spouse seeking maintenance; and
- (f) The ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is sought to meet his needs and financial obligations while meeting those of the spouse seeking maintenance.
- (b) The time necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party seeking maintenance to find employment appropriate to his skill, interests, style of life, and other attendant circumstances;
- (a) The financial resources of the party seeking maintenance, including separate or community property apportioned to him, and his ability to meet his needs independently, including the extent to which a provision for support of a child living with the party includes a sum for that party;
- Can I receive temporary maintenance during the pendency of the dissolution
proceeding?
Yes, by a motion for temporary maintenance. The motion must be accompanied by an affidavit setting forth the factual basis for the motion and the amount requested. - What can I do to prevent my spouse from hiding assets to avoid paying
maintenance?
As a part of a motion for temporary maintenance or by a separate motion accompanied by a factual affidavit, you may request the court to restrain and enjoin the other party from:- a). Transferring, removing, encumbering, concealing, or in any way disposing of any property except in the usual course of business or for the necessities of life; and
- b). If so restrained or enjoined, requiring him or her to notify the moving party of any proposed extraordinary expenditures made after the order is issued.
- a). Transferring, removing, encumbering, concealing, or in any way disposing of any property except in the usual course of business or for the necessities of life; and
- Our marriage was dissolved five years ago. My former spouse has threatened
to take me to court to modify the maintenance decree. Is this possible?
Yes, upon a showing of substantial change in circumstances. - Can a decree preclude or limit modification of maintenance?
Yes, if the preclusion or limitation is specifically provided for by a separation contract and a decree. - The maintenance decree does not have a termination date. How long do I
have to pay maintenance?
The obligation to pay future maintenance is terminated upon the death of either party or the remarriage of the party receiving maintenance, unless otherwise agreed in writing or expressly provided in the decree.
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