Are you worried about what your life is going to look like post-divorce? If so, we understand your concerns. You may have enjoyed a high-net-worth marriage that provided you with the safety and security that you needed, but it may seem like that’s all coming to an end with the dissolution of your marriage.
But, depending on the circumstances of your case, there are probably things that you can do to position yourself for strong financial standing post-divorce. Among them is building a robust case for spousal support.
How can you build your spousal support case?
The first step is simply understanding the law so that you know what a judge is going to be looking for if you end up having to litigate the matter. Under Michigan law, the court is allowed to consider a host of factors, including the length of your marriage, the marital standard of living, the financial resources of each spouse, and the sacrifices made during the marriage. Therefore, as you start to build your case, you’ll want to ensure that your evidence speaks to these factors.
What evidence do you need?
You’ll want to be as comprehensive and holistic as possible as you gather evidence to support your request for spousal support. That may include any and all of the following:
- Evidence of assets and financial resources: By gathering evidence of your and your spouse’s assets, you can paint clear picture for the court of each party’s financial positioning. The more lopsided the assets appear, the more likely you are to be awarded alimony.
- Evidence of your expenses: Try to anticipate what your expenses are going to look like post-divorce. Don’t try to sugar coat it, either. Be realistic about where your money is going to go so that a judge can better see the financial support that you’re going to need.
- Evidence that speaks to the marital standard of living: This evidence can be key to your case. Therefore, think about every aspect of your marriage and how it supported your marital standard of living. If you can, it may be helpful to obtain bank statements or receipts that show how frequently you and your spouse went shopping or dined out, and records of vacations, your housing, and the vehicles you drove can all be relevant here. Again, don’t downplay any aspect of your marriage. The more documentation and testimonial accounts that you can provide to support a showing of a heightened standard of living, the better.
- Evidence of your sacrifices: This evidence may come from your own testimony, but you’ll want to be as thorough as possible. You might be able to speak about giving up a career or education so that you could raise your children, or you may be able to demonstrate that you forewent your own education or career so that you could support your spouse in his endeavor, such as running a business. What’s key here is that you have to show what you’ve given up for your family. The more compelling your testimony, the more likely it is to increase your chances of recovering spousal support.
Do you need help building your case?
A spousal support order can not only provide you with the financial stability that you need post-divorce but also the money required to retain some semblance of the life that you enjoyed during your marriage. In other words, there’s a lot on the line.
That’s why you might want to consider working closely with a legal team that is experienced in negotiating and litigating these matters. If you want to know more about what one of these teams can do for you, please consider researching your representation options further.