Helping You Reach Fair Support Agreements
The financial impact of a divorce is one of the main concerns that people often have. Child support and spousal support need to be determined and factored into the full cost of the divorce. At The Schwab Law Firm, our attorneys have more than 60 years of collective experience helping clients in Terrebonne Parish and throughout southeast Louisiana determine accurate income and expenses to reach fair child and spousal support (also known as alimony) agreements.
Our attorneys help families understand their rights and obligations regarding support and other legal matters. Call 985-262-3778 or contact us online to discuss your concerns.
Understanding Louisiana Child Support Guidelines
In Louisiana, the child support amount is determined by applying state-specific guidelines to your situation. Ensuring an accurate and complete financial picture of both income and expenses is the key to arriving at a fair outcome. Our firm represents clients whose income may be atypical or irregular, coming from commissions, seasonal jobs, employee bonuses, overtime payments and others.
Understanding all of the expenses required to support the child, including child care and health care fully, is extremely important. Our lawyers take the time to review your finances and begin to gather information on the amount of money needed to support the child, so you can get a clear picture of what to expect.
Beyond the initial support determination, we also help clients who need assistance in seeking, or defending against, post-decree enforcement or modifications of existing child support orders.
Types Of Spousal Support
There are two types of spousal support that the courts grant in Louisiana. There are different requirements for each kind of support, and we will help you protect your rights regarding both:
- Interim spousal support can be granted for the period from filing through the finalization of the divorce and, in some circumstances, up to 180 days post-divorce. This kind of alimony gives the receiving party time to become self-sufficient while the divorce is pending. Fault is not considered in determining interim spousal support, whereas pre-separation expenses are.
- Permanent periodic spousal support is granted after the divorce is finalized. The court will consider the three primary factors: freedom from fault, the ability of one party to pay and the need of the requesting party. This kind of support continues for as long as those three factors exist or until the receiving party’s remarriage or the commencement of living with a romantic partner outside of marriage.
If your former spouse has failed to live up to their spousal support obligations, we can pursue contempt proceedings to seek enforcement of the original order or amounts past due. If you experience a material change in life or financial circumstances, a modification may be in order. We help parties seek or defend against a modification.
Schedule An Appointment With An Experienced Louisiana Lawyer
Call 985-262-3778 or contact us online to discuss your child and spousal support concerns with a family law attorney dedicated to helping families.
Our office is located in downtown Houma, one block away from the courthouse. We are available between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to noon on Friday, and meetings at other times are available by appointment. Our office is closed between noon and 1 p.m. daily for lunch.