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Determining High-Asset Spousal Maintenance

In Minnesota, spousal maintenance (alimony) is not available in every divorce. But for some couples, where one spouse earns a significant income and the other spouse cares for the children, and where one spouse takes care of the household and provides support for the other’s career, support may be available. The other significant factor is the length of the marriage. When a marriage has a duration of more than 20 years, the likelihood of spousal support or maintenance increases.

A Subjective Calculation

At Olson Law LLC, our attorneys can explain the standards a court will use to determine when it is appropriate to make an award of spousal maintenance. We will then develop strong arguments that will support your perspective. In any divorce where maintenance may be ordered, the evidence and arguments used are important, and the better you are able to support each factor with specific evidence and compelling arguments, the more likely you are to be successful.

There is no bright-line test; a judge will review multiple parts of your marriage. The statutory analysis provides two factors to examine the grounds for maintenance, and eight additional factors are used to determine the amount and duration of maintenance such as the length of the marriage, the contributions to the marriage, and the income, education, and earning potential of each spouse.

A High-Asset Standard Of Living?

For couples with significant assets within a complex divorce, the potential for spousal maintenance can be highly contested. Because the “standard of living established during the marriage” for a high-asset couple may be substantial, it can provide an incentive for parties to become uncooperative and resort to litigation.

Emotions can run high, and this strategy may seem attractive, but at the end of the day, every dollar spent on court costs and litigation is a dollar less for your children or yourself. Our attorneys can help you with all aspects of these challenging matters and provide experienced counsel that strives to be cost-effective and protects your bottom line.

Contact Us For Assistance

High-asset spousal maintenance issues are often problematic. We can help. Call 763-515-8013 for a free consultation with a lawyer. You can also schedule online. From our office in Buffalo, we represent clients with spousal maintenance issues throughout the west Twin Cities metro area.