Porter, TX asked in Divorce for Texas

Q: If a couple divorces with no kids does the husband have to furnish the lifestyle accustomed for the wife? Married 24 yrs

Related Topics:
1 Lawyer Answer
Shawn H. Smith
Shawn H. Smith
Answered
  • Fort Collins, CO
  • Licensed in Texas

A: It sounds like you are asking about spousal maintenance, otherwise known as alimony. In Texas, with the length of marriage being 24 years, you could be ordered by a judge to pay 20% of your monthly gross income up to $5000 for up to 7 years. This is not like the child support statute, in that the judge here has a large amount of discretion within the statute to decide how much to award and for how long. You need to contact a qualified family law attorney I order to assure that the settlement is fair and doesn't go above your ability to pay. Good luck.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.