Experienced Portland-Area Alimony Attorney
Spousal support, or alimony, can be seen as a justified payment to compensate a spouse for years spent raising a family, maintaining a home and supporting the other spouse's career. It can also be viewed as an attempt to extract the maximum amount of money while inflicting the maximum amount of pain.
Whatever your view of alimony, it is extremely important to have an experienced attorney representing you.
For more than 25 years, people facing divorce in Lake Oswego and throughout the Portland area have relied on the Law Offices of Stephen J. Bedor for effective representation in matters of alimony.
We take the time to analyze the issues and to obtain the proper evidence. We retain experts who can make a persuasive case for our clients.
Alimony can be temporary or transitional, until the ex-spouse is able to support himself or herself. Alimony can also be permanent or paid for a specified length of time. Factors that influence the amount of alimony awarded range from the length of the marriage to the age and health of the two parties to the tax consequences to each. A skillful divorce lawyer can sort through these factors and develop a plan for achieving your goals.
An Experienced Attorney Can Make All the Difference
Unlike child support issues, Oregon judges have a great deal of discretion when it comes to awarding alimony. They may even base their decision not on the actual amount a spouse is earning but on his or her potential earnings.
In one case, we convinced the court that our client's spouse, who was earning $18,000 a year, could easily be making $30,000 and, within a few years, could be making $55,000. The result? Based on the testimony of an experienced vocational expert the court decided in our favor. Our client is paying significantly less in alimony than his spouse requested.
To arrange a consultation about establishing or modifying spousal support, please contact the Law Offices of Stephen J. Bedor.
