New York City Spousal Maintenance Lawyers
Providing Results-Driven Legal Guidance for Divorce Clients
Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein LLP is a boutique family and divorce law practice based in midtown Manhattan and serving the greater New York area. Our attorneys assist clients in all matters related to divorce, including pre-divorce spousal maintenance and post-divorce spousal support determinations.
Is There a Difference Between Alimony and Spousal Maintenance in New York?
Spousal maintenance, previously called “alimony” in New York and also known as “spousal support”, is the legal term for money one spouse or former spouse may be required to pay the other spouse after divorce. While spousal maintenance may be set for life, it is generally awarded for a specific period. To determine the amount and duration of a maintenance award, courts consider these factors:
- The income and property of each spouse, including each spouse’s share of the marital property as divided by the court
- The length of the marriage
- The age and health of the parties
- The present and future earning capacity of both spouses
- A spouse’s need to incur training or education expenses
- The existence and duration of a joint household before marriage or separate households before divorce
- Acts by one spouse against the other that inhibit the other’s earning capacity or ability to get a job
- The ability of the party seeking maintenance to become self-supporting, and the time and training it will require
- Whether the spouse seeking maintenance has reduced or lost lifetime earning capacity because of having forgone or delayed education, training, employment, or career opportunities during the marriage
- Where the children live
- Whether a spouse’s earning capacity is inhibited by ongoing care of children, stepchildren, adult children with disabilities, or elderly parents or in-laws
- Whether one spouse will have trouble finding work due to age or absence from the workforce
- Exceptional, additional expenses for the children
- The tax consequences to each party
- The equitable distribution of marital property
- The contributions and services of the party seeking maintenance as a spouse, parent, wage earner, homemaker, and to the career or career potential of the other party
- The wasteful dissipation of marital property by either spouse
- Any transfer or encumbrance made in contemplation of a matrimonial action without fair consideration
- The loss, availability, and cost of health insurance
- Any other factor that the court expressly finds just and proper
What Sets Us Apart From The Rest?
Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein is here to help you get the results you need with a team you can trust.
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We are one of the only Manhattan divorce law firms offering all three options for divorce: litigation/negotiation, collaborative law, and mediation - providing custom strategies and solutions for our clients.
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All families and marriages are unique - our attorneys take the time to listen to our clients to fully understand the circumstances of their case. Only then do we advise the best legal option for their goals.
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Divorce is a time of transition. We understand the emotional and financial stress that clients experience during the divorce process – from day one our team ensures that we provide our clients with prompt feedback so that they are updated on their case every step of the way.
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Our attorneys provide frequent expert legal commentary for national media outlets and have been quoted in numerous publications including Fox's Business, NBC News, ABC News, CBS News and many more.
Contact Experienced Divorce Lawyers Familiar with Spousal Maintenance in NY
If you are facing divorce and need assistance with spousal support, the New York family law attorneys at Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein LLP can provide the legal advice and counsel you need. Please contact the firm or call (212) 466-6015. Proudly serving Manhattan, Westchester, and Bergen County, New Jersey.