Temporary Maintenance Awards During Divorce.
Divorce actions can take years to resolve. During the course of a long proceeding, a financially dependent spouse, suddenly cut off from the other spouse’s support, may have a hard time making ends meet, even though that spouse should (and will eventually) be awarded support payments from the wealthier spouse. New York law allows a remedy for such situations. Courts may order a wealthy spouse to make payments to a financially dependent spouse until the divorce action is resolved and more permanent payments are determined. Such a payment is called “temporary maintenance,” and is calculated according to a formula set out in New York’s Domestic Relations Law.
Generally, the formula is as follows: 20% of the dependent spouse’s yearly income is subtracted from 30% of the wealthier spouse’s yearly income (up to a statutorily determined cap of $500,000). Then, the dependent spouse’s yearly income is subtracted from 40% of both spouse’s combined yearly income (again, a $500,000 cap is applied to the wealthier spouse’s income). The temporary maintenance award will be the lower of these two numbers.
For example, assume that the wealthier spouse’s income is $100 per year, and the dependent spouse’s income is $50 per year. 20% of the less wealthy spouse’s income ($10) is subtracted from 30% of the wealthier spouse’s income ($30). The result is $20. Then, the less wealthy spouse’s income ($50) is subtracted from 40% of the spouses’ combined income. The spouses’ combined income is $150. 40% of $150 = $60. Subtracting $50 (the less wealthy spouse’s income) from $60 (40% of the spouses’ combined income) leaves $10. The temporary maintenance award will be the lower of these two numbers – $10. This amount is the temporary maintenance payment the wealthier spouse would be ordered to pay the dependent spouse in this situation, until the divorce action is resolved. The court may order different amounts in certain high income cases, or take into account other factors as is it sees fit.
If you are considering initiating a divorce action or are already involved in a divorce action, and would like to speak with an attorney, The Law Firm of Vaughn & Weber, PLLC is here to assist you. Call (516) 858-2620 to speak with a Family Law Attorney today!
*Contributions to the research and preparation of this blog were made by Jason Mays, J.D. (awaiting admission in NYS).
Uncontested Divorce
In the past few months we have received a lot of phone calls from people who either attempted to file their own uncontested divorce or hired the cheapest attorney they could find to file their uncontested divorce for them. Unfortunately, these folks have found out the hard way, that mistakes in the paperwork or the filings of these uncontested types of divorce can lead to serious delays and stress. Although an uncontested divorce is not as technically challenging as a contested divorce may be, it should still be taken seriously. An uncontested divorce controls the manner in which a marriage is dissolved. Issues of child custody, child support, maintenance, and property distribution are all at stake when these divorce papers are prepared and filed. It is very important that you find a competent professional to prepare and file your divorce. Saving several months time and a lot of money that it takes to fix mistakes in the divorce process is well worth the slightly higher cost that you may pay. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact the Law Firm of Vaughn, Weber & Prakope, PLLC at (516) 858-2620!
Uncontested Divorce
It has become apparent to me that the term “UNCONTESTED DIVORCE” has a lot of people confused. An uncontested divorce is actually quite simple. In short, an uncontested divorce simply means that the two parties will have no dispute as to maintenance, child support, child custody or visitation, or equitable distribution. If you fit these criteria, then your marriage may be ended via an uncontested divorce. If there is a dispute to one or more of these issues that cannot be resolved by the parties, then the divorce will be transferred to the contested divorce calendar. Although the uncontested divorce process is less litigious, it is still wise to consult with and retain an attorney to ensure that the proper paperwork is completed and filed. Errors in the divorce papers themselves, or filing errors will result in extreme delays of the judgment. The uncontested divorce process on average will take anywhere between three to six months to complete. Errors can double or triple that time frame. Severe errors could lead to a dismissed case or a case being sent to the contested divorce calendar. Cooperation of the parties can significantly shorten the wait time for the divorce to be complete.
Long Island Divorce Attorney
If you have any questions on how to process an uncontested divorce as quickly as possible, please feel free to contact one of our attorneys at (516) 858-2620!
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