how is alimony calculated

How Spousal Support Works In Washington

Goldberg JonesDivorce, Spousal Support 8 Comments

Divorce is a lot. You have the division of property, child custody, visitation, child support, and all the rest. And once you handle all of that, the court may still order spousal support.

What Is Spousal Support?

Spousal support, also called alimony or spousal maintenance, is court-ordered payments intended to lessen financial hardship for dependent spouses after divorce. It can last for a short time or continue indefinitely depending on the circumstances.

Spousal support most often comes into play when there’s a significant gap in earning potential between spouses. It also figures into cases of substantial financial need.

By and large, it’s men who pay spousal support. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 243,000 people received spousal support and 98% of recipients were women.

Related ReadingRebuilding Finances And Protecting Your Credit Score During Divorce

How is Spousal Support Calculated in Washington State?

Spousal support regulations vary a great deal from one state to the next. For instance, both Oregon and California have multiple types that the court can award to fit specific conditions. The system in Washington, however, is more fluid and less formulaic.

With no uniform criteria, individual judges use a list of factors to decide whether to award spousal support, the amount of these payments, and the duration.

They can be temporary in nature or last indefinitely, and payments can be periodic and regular or take the form of a single lump sum. In these cases, the courts have broad discretion.

When it comes time to determine spousal support in Washington, the key factors considered include:

  • Length of the union.
  • Standard of living experienced during the marriage.
  • Age of the requesting spouse.
  • If one spouse financially supported the other.
  • If a spouse has a physical disability.
  • The mental and emotional health of the dependent party.
  • Financial obligations,
  • The other spouse’s ability to pay.

Essentially, the court looks at any and all factors that further influence a spouse’s financial state following a divorce. All of these pieces play a role. The longer the marriage, the more likely the court is to award spousal support.

Support may also be awarded to help one spouse get training to advance employment opportunities, increase future earning potential, and gain financial independence.

In cases where one spouse contributed substantially to the education or financial prospects of the other, the court can also award spousal support. This is most common in situations where one spouse worked to put the other through school or in similar situations.

In some cases, the court can award spousal support indefinitely. Can is the key word. In these cases the cheating must have a direct and significant impact on financial standing. And even in those situations, it’s difficult to prove.

In general, spousal support occurs most often when a significant disparity in the earning capacity exists between spouses, one unlikely ever to close. It also pops up in situations where the dependent spouse is unable to work or find suitable employment due to health issues.

Washington’s non-formulaic approach to spousal support means the process is much less predictable than in other states.

Since the outcome is far from guaranteed, it makes negotiating a longer, more difficult—not to mention expensive—process. More time in court also generally means additional stress to those involved.

Related Reading: What’s in a Divorce Decree?

Can You Get Support Payments If You Were Never Married?

No, the court only gives spousal support when you were married.

Related Reading: Does Washington Have Common-Law Marriage?

How taxes Work

Any spousal support ordered after December 31, 2018, is subject to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. It abolished a tax deduction that had been on the books for more than 70 years.

For divorce settlements after December 31, 2018, the paying spouse is no longer be able to deduct this amount. At the same time, the recipient no longer has to pay taxes on that money.

The previous situation gave the payer a major “above the line” deduction (as opposed to an itemized deduction).

The deduction often saved the payer a substantial sum, which left more money to divide between exes. The new way reduces the gross amount and washes away the benefits of the deduction.

Related Reading: How Divorce Affects Health Coverage

Support Payment Modification

One important thing to be aware of with spousal support is how difficult it is to modify after the fact. It is technically possible, but it’s usually a steep uphill battle.

A significant, unexpected change in circumstances must happen to alter an existing order. This can be the loss of a job, receipt of a promotion, or a similar occurrence. The party filing for the adjustment needs to provide evidence supporting these claims.

It can be time-consuming and costly to amend, and even then, the court may resist. Because of this, it’s critical to make sure you understand all the details about your spousal support order before you sign.

If both parties settle on terms, it is possible to modify an existing agreement on your own.

The exes need to enter into a written contract laying out the specifics. This then requires a judge to sign off to become official.

One item of note: If you already have a support order and want to modify it, it will likely be subject to the new tax code.

Related ReadingMy Ex Won’t Follow The Divorce Agreement

Termination Of Support Orders

Spousal support payments come to an end if one spouse dies. No one can force you to make payments to the deceased’s estate, nor can you collect payments from their family.

If the recipient remarries, that also constitutes a substantial change in circumstances. Payments then terminate by law in Washington, unless otherwise specified in the divorce decree.

Finances following divorce have a huge impact on the next phase of your life. Moving forward is much more difficult when you start in a preexisting hole. This is why taking the time and making sure you have the optimal spousal support agreement, whichever side you fall on, becomes so vital.

Related Reading: Average Divorce Costs In Washington

Comments 8

    1. Post
      Author

      Hi Martha, thanks for reaching out! I passed your information on to Ken Alan, our managing attorney. He’ll reach out soon with more information about your case.

    1. Post
      Author

      Hi Tracey, thanks for reaching out. That’s an interesting question. I passed your email on to Ken Alan, our managing attorney. He’ll reach out to you soon with a more in-depth answer than we can get into here.

  1. If I already have spousal support order finalized and a year later decide to move in with my boyfriend, will my spousal support be decreased? I know it cannot be terminated based on the court order.

    1. Post
      Author

      Hi Christina, thanks for reaching out. That’s a complicated question. I passed your contact information along to Ken Alan, our managing attorney. He will reach out to you with a more in-depth answer than we can get into here.

  2. What happens when the payer hits retirement and the recipient hasn’t remarried or died? Does the payer still have to pay the support from their own retirement funds?

    1. Hi Kate, thanks for reaching out.

      Generally speaking, a retirement fund that was accruing during the marriage, (like a pension or 401k), is considered community property and would have been factored in when dividing assets and debts during the divorce. Since the person receiving alimony would already have a piece of the payer’s retirement fund/s, it’s unlikely that payee would be able to “double-dip” and receive both at the same time unless it was agreed upon or stipulated by the court in the final divorce decree.

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