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.
Why Choose Samuelson Hause PLLC?
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Accredited By the Better Business Bureau (BBB®) for High-Quality, Ethical Legal Practices
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Testimonials
Our Determination & Dedication Is Recognized by Our Clients
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Richard Hause is a very capable, thorough attorney who really cares about his clients. He is the attorney you need when going through the stresses and travails of divorce.Lisa Doran
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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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“Clients I refer to Wendy always come back and tell me how professional she is. She listens to them, provides a caring voice, but is a strong attorney who gets results.”Warren M. Bergstein, CPA
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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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“Despite the unpleasant nature of divorce, the attorneys at Samuelson Hause PLLC were a pleasure to work with.”J.F., Finance
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“Listen well and give excellent advice.”Mark K.
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“I knew I had to switch lawyers after a long drawn out process. When I walked into Wendy’s office with a deadline of about a week she took the case immediately and she and Anna”Keri S.