Spousal maintenance - often called alimony - compensates for economic disparity after marriage. New York uses income-based guidelines with factors for duration and amount, but judges retain discretion. Whether you seek maintenance or defend against an excessive claim, the income analysis and marital lifestyle record decide the outcome.
Guidelines vs. discretion.
Courts apply statutory formulas but may deviate based on age, health, earning capacity, and the marriage's length. We build the financial narrative that supports or challenges guideline results.
Duration and termination events.
Maintenance duration ties to marriage length and can terminate on remarriage or cohabitation. We draft and argue terms that protect clients from open-ended exposure - or secure support when it is warranted.
Maintenance and equitable distribution together.
Support and property division interact. A bad distribution can foreclose maintenance arguments - or vice versa. We negotiate the full financial package, not isolated line items.
