The Process Used To Calculate Spousal Support

In almost all divorces the matter of finances, and specifically spousal support, is bound to arise, and given that this will impact significantly on both spouses’ futures, the importance of having family lawyers represent for this them is clear. That applies whether they are the spouse who will be paying spousal support or the one who will be receiving it.

Applying for spousal support can be done by someone who is married and getting a divorce, or it can be done by someone who was in a de facto relationship. This means that they were not actually married to their ex-partner, however, within Australian family law, couples in a de facto relationship have many of the same rights and protections as those who are married.

There is no amount of time that has to pass until one of the spouses is entitled to receive spousal support. In other words, they have a right to apply for it, from the day that they separate. It is often the case that the partner who has the greater finances believes that they do not have to start paying spousal support until after they are divorced, but as their family lawyer will them, that is not true.

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