Alimony Attorney in Temple, TX

Board Certified Family Law. Over 35 Years Serving Bell County.

Spousal support questions don’t wait for convenient timing. They surface in the middle of an already difficult divorce, with long-term financial consequences on both sides. At Young Law Firm, we’ve handled family law cases in Temple since 1989, and our lead attorney Barbara Schwarz Young holds Board Certification in Family Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a credential earned through a written exam, demonstrated case experience, and peer evaluations from fellow attorneys and judges. Attorneys and law firms throughout Central Texas regularly refer clients to us, and that kind of professional trust isn’t built overnight.

Texas uses the term spousal maintenance in its statutes; alimony is the term most people search for and use in conversation. Both describe the same concept: post-divorce financial support from one spouse to the other. The rules governing whether support is available, how much can be ordered, and for how long are case-specific and strictly applied under Texas law.

If you’re facing spousal support questions in Bell County, call our alimony attorneys at (254) 774-1996 to get a clear picture of where you stand.

Two Types of Spousal Support in Texas

The difference between court-ordered spousal maintenance and contractual alimony shapes every decision in a spousal support case. Court-ordered spousal maintenance is governed by Texas Family Code Chapter 8, which sets strict eligibility requirements, payment caps, and duration limits. Contractual alimony is a voluntary agreement reached during divorce negotiations. It isn’t subject to the same statutory caps, but it’s enforced as a contract rather than a court order.

That distinction matters in practice. A spouse who doesn’t qualify for court-ordered maintenance may still negotiate contractual alimony as part of a divorce settlement. A spouse who does qualify may find that negotiated terms offer more flexibility than what a court may award. Knowing which path applies to your situation, and what leverage you have in either, is where legal guidance makes a real difference.

Eligibility for Court-Ordered Spousal Maintenance

Texas law carries a rebuttable presumption against spousal maintenance, meaning the spouse seeking support bears the burden of proving eligibility. The first requirement in every case is financial need: the requesting spouse must show they lack sufficient property or income to meet their minimum reasonable needs after the divorce.

Beyond financial need, one of four qualifying conditions must apply:

• Family violence: The other spouse was convicted of or received deferred adjudication for a family violence offense within two years before the divorce filing, or while the case was pending
• Disability: The requesting spouse has a physical or mental disability that prevents self-support
• Long marriage: The marriage lasted at least 10 years and the requesting spouse lacks the ability to earn sufficient income, with demonstrated good-faith efforts to seek employment or develop skills
• Caregiving: The requesting spouse is the primary caretaker of a child of the marriage with a physical or mental disability requiring substantial care

Texas law is gender-neutral on this point. Either spouse may be the party seeking or paying support, depending on the financial circumstances of the case.

How Amount & Duration Are Calculated

Court-ordered spousal maintenance is capped at the lesser of $5,000 per month or 20% of the paying spouse’s average monthly gross income. Duration is tied to how long the marriage lasted.

The marriage-length tiers under Texas law:

• 10 to 20 years: Up to 5 years of maintenance
• 20 to 30 years: Up to 7 years
• 30 years or more: Up to 10 years
• Under 10 years: Up to 5 years, only in qualifying domestic violence cases

Courts are directed to award maintenance for the shortest period necessary for the receiving spouse to reach financial self-sufficiency, not the maximum allowed. If the receiving spouse has a qualifying disability, or is caring for a child with one, a court may extend maintenance beyond these standard tiers. Maintenance automatically terminates if either spouse dies or if the receiving spouse remarries. Cohabitation with a new romantic partner on a continuing, permanent basis can also be grounds for termination after a court hearing.

Beyond the caps and tiers, courts weigh a range of factors: each spouse’s financial resources after property division, education and employment history, time needed to complete training or education, the length of the marriage, each spouse’s age and health, and whether marital misconduct such as adultery occurred. Child support and spousal maintenance are separate determinations and can both be ordered in the same proceeding.

What Our Alimony Lawyers Do at Each Stage

Spousal support strategy begins before a single document is filed. Temporary spousal support during the divorce is a separate matter from post-divorce maintenance and requires its own filing. Early involvement can protect your financial position while the case is still pending.

Building the Case for Clients Seeking Support

For clients seeking support, we help build the evidentiary record the court will scrutinize: financial need documentation, employment history, and evidence of good-faith efforts at self-sufficiency.

Responding to a Support Claim

For clients on the other side, we analyze the statutory caps, the requesting spouse’s eligibility arguments, and the income figures at issue to construct the strongest possible response.

Trial Preparation & Negotiation

We prepare every case as if it will go to trial. That preparation can also position our clients for a strong position at the negotiation table, whether the matter resolves in mediation or goes before a Bell County court. We tell clients what they need to hear, not what they want to hear: honest assessments of eligibility, realistic expectations about amounts and duration, and clear communication at every stage so you know where things stand.

Spousal Support in Military Divorce Cases

Military families near Fort Cavazos face spousal support considerations that don’t arise in civilian divorces. We have direct experience working through these issues with active-duty and veteran clients throughout Central Texas.

Active-duty members may be entitled to protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, which can allow postponement of divorce proceedings during deployment. Division of military retirement follows federal law under the Uniformed Services Former Spouses’ Protection Act. Spousal support calculations in military divorce must also account for military-specific income: base pay, housing allowances, and special pay, when determining eligibility and amounts under Texas law. These intersecting rules require an attorney who knows both the Texas Family Code and the federal statutes that govern service members.

Why Bell County Residents Choose Young Law Firm

Barbara Schwarz Young’s Board Certification in Family Law is held by a small percentage of practicing attorneys in Texas. It required passing a written exam, demonstrating substantial involvement in family law, and receiving favorable evaluations from fellow attorneys and judges. She has also served as a director for the State Bar of Texas and currently serves as a trustee of the Texas Bar Foundation, peer-appointed roles that reflect how the broader legal community views her standing in this profession.

Our firm has received the Martindale-Hubbell Client Champion recognition, awarded based on the volume and quality of verified client reviews. Verified reviewers on Avvo, Lawyers.com, and Martindale.com describe our team as professional, responsive, and honest under pressure. Several noted that the difference in representation compared to previous counsel was significant enough to affect their experience. Clients return to us years after their original case closes, for custody modifications, support adjustments, and new legal matters. That pattern reflects trust that outlasts any single case.

Get Plain-Language Guidance on Your Spousal Support Case

From your first consultation, we walk through every realistic option in direct, clear language. No jargon, no runaround. We listen before we recommend, and the strategy we build reflects your specific goals, not a generic template.

We serve Temple and the broader Bell County and Central Texas region. If you have questions about alimony or spousal maintenance, contact our alimony attorney team today. Call Young Law Firm at (254) 774-1996 to schedule your consultation.