
Long Island Spousal Support Attorney
Understanding Court-Ordered Spousal Support Payments in Long Island
During and after a divorce, one spouse may be required to make monetary payments to the other spouse. These payments - which are referred to as spousal maintenance or spousal support - were designed to ensure a spouse has sufficient income to maintain the pre-marital standard of living and to become self-supporting.
How Spousal Maintenance Works in New York
According to New York State law, the court may award spousal maintenance, also known as alimony or spousal support, to the lesser-monied or non-monied spouse during and following a divorce. The court will first apply the maintenance guidelines formula, and then will decide whether to deviate from that formula based on certain circumstances. In addition, the court will then determine how long maintenance will be paid, based on how long it will take the spouse to be self-supporting.
For an experienced Long Island alimony lawyer, contact our law firm online or call us at 516-584-4685.
Calculating Spousal Maintenance in New York
Like child support, there is a formula for determining how much a person will pay in maintenance—the maintenance guidelines amount.
You should ask your attorney to review the probability of paying or receiving maintenance and for what length of time. Once the guideline amount is calculated, then the court may determine whether to deviate from the formula based on numerous circumstances, including but not limited to;
- The length of the marriage
- The standard of living the couple shared during the marriage
- Each spouse's current income or earning capacity
- Each spouse's vocational skills and his or her ability to earn an income
- Whether one spouse stayed home during the marriage to take care of the children
- Each spouse's assets and debts
- The age of each spouse
- The physical and mental health of each spouse
Our Long Island Alimony Lawyers Are Ready to Help
At Samuelson Hause PLLC, an experienced Long Island divorce lawyer can provide you with dedicated legal counsel to ensure you are not receiving or paying an unreasonable amount in maintenance. We have extensive experience in this area of divorce law and are committed to using our resources and legal knowledge to help our clients resolve their spousal support cases to provide them with financial security.
Further Reading on Spousal Support
Contact our firm online or call us at (516) 584-4685 today to speak to a Long Island alimony attorney about alimony and learn how we can help you assert your rights and protect your best interests.

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Testimonials
Our Determination & Dedication Is Recognized by Our Clients
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You (Elliot D. Samuelson) are one of the most active people I know and I congratulate you on the honors bestowed upon you by the New York State Bar Association. It’s nice to know that you have given of yourself to make our profession better.V.R.B. - Former Justice of the Appellate Division
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“C.C.
Thank you so much for the informative consultation. You’re such a remarkable woman & I truly appreciate all the referrals.
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In selecting Elliot Samuelson as among the leading divorce attorneys on Long Island, over 185 interviews were conducted over a 7 month period. Mr. Samuelson is the author of 5 books including Matrimonial Motion Practice in New York. He has been named to “Ten Leaders” of Matrimonial and Divorce Law of Long Island.Digital Press International
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“A year before I decided to get divorced, I met with Wendy. I wasn’t quite ready to pull the plug on my marriage, even though when I look back I realize it was over for years. I remember being impressed with Wendy’s calm authority and the feelin”Anonymous
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“I worked with Tracy Hawkes, she was great throughout the entire process.”Tina M.
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“Dear Wendy, I want to thank you a million times from the bottom of my heart for your endless patience and willingness to look out for my welfare even though I was often too willing to bury my head in the sand.”Dr. A.R., Surgeon
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“I almost never leave reviews so that means a lot that I am leaving one here for Wendy Samuelson. I cannot say enough positive things. I went into the consultation with trepidation of my situation and she gave me the factual reassurance I needed. She advise”Tara G.
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“Most importantly, she really cared about me as a human.”Fan Y.


