The first critical piece of advice for people going through a divorce or separation (and who have legal concerns) is that no matter how much independent research a person may perform, there is no substitute for having an experienced family lawyer to guide them through the case or conflict. Not only does your local Virginia Beach Family Lawyer have experience – often times having represented scores of clients going through a situation similar to your own – but a skilled attorney can also provide the peace of mind that comes with knowing that no stone is left unturned, and no one is being taken advantage of.
The question at hand is: What factors will a Virginia court look to in deciding spousal support awards? The Virginia Code, Section 20-107.1 provides these factors. Your local Virginia Beach Family Lawyer is your professional resource for understanding and applying the factors that determine spousal support based on your facts. Some these factors: The standard of living during the marriage; the debts and resources of the parties; the age and mental conditions of the parties; the contributions made to the marriage; the property interests of the parties, the length of the marriage; tax consequences, and more. This short list is not comprehensive, as there are numerous other factors listed by the statute. Your local Virginia Beach Family Lawyer can explain these factors as well as those not mentioned here.
The factors listed by the statute are important for the judge to consider, because failure to consider ALL of the factors is “reversible error.” This is a legal term that simply means such a failure to consider all factors is a grave mistake; enough that a case can be reconsidered at a later time. Thus, lawyers and judges must possess a very expansive understanding of the law, because even though the judge analyzes the facts and factors, the lawyers too must advocate for their clients as their facts relate to each corresponding factor.
