Areas of practice

Spousal Support

Our Expertise

The lawyers at Mark J. Mansfield & Associates is a family law practice that assist clients in all matters related to divorce, including interim spousal support and final spousal support determinations.

If spouses are in the midst of divorce, a spouse who earns less than his or her spouse may be eligible for interim spousal support, pending the final divorce. Many of the factors are the same as or similar to those determining spousal support after a divorce. The lawyers at Mark J. Mansfield & Associates can ably assist clients in interim spousal support and final spousal support matters.

Spousal Support

Spousal support, previously called alimony in Louisiana, is the legal term for money one spouse or former spouse may be required to pay the other spouse after divorce. While spousal support may be set for life, it is generally awarded for a specific period of time.

Child Support

Spousal Support Factors

To determine the amount and duration of a support award, courts consider the factors
  • The income and property of each spouse, including each spouse’s share of the marital property as divided by the court
  • The length of the marriage
  • The age and health of the parties
  • The present and future earning capacity of both spouses
  • A spouse’s need to incur training or education expenses
  • The existence and duration of a joint household before marriage or separate households before divorce
  • Acts by one spouse against the other that inhibit the others earning capacity or ability to get a job
  • The ability of the party seeking maintenance to become self-supporting, and the time and training it will requir
  • Whether the spouse seeking maintenance has reduced or lost lifetime earning capacity as a result of having forgone or delayed education, training, employment, or career opportunities during the marriage
  • Where the children live
  • Where the children live
  • Any other factor that the court expressly finds just and proper
  • The income and property of each spouse, including each spouse’s share of the marital property as divided by the court
  • Whether a spouse’s earning capacity is inhibited by ongoing care of children, stepchildren, adult children with disabilities, or elderly parents or in-laws
  • Whether one spouse will have trouble finding work due to age or absence from the workforce
  • Exceptional, additional expenses for the children
  • The tax consequences to each party
  • The equitable distribution of marital property
  • The contributions and services of the party seeking support as a spouse, parent, wage earner, homemaker, and to the career or career potential of the other party
  • The wasteful dissipation of marital property by either spouse
  • Any transfer or encumbrance made in contemplation of a matrimonial action without fair consideration
  • The loss, availability, and cost of health insurance

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Representing the Northshore and Metropolitan New Orleans in Family Law

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