Spousal Support

In a divorce proceeding or after, a Louisiana court can order a spouse to pay the other spouse spousal support.  Louisiana law provides two types of spousal support: Interim Periodic Support and Final Periodic Support.

Interim Periodic Support is support paid by one spouse to another based on one spouse's need and the other's ability to pay support.  An award of interim periodic support typically terminates 180 days after the rendition of the judgment of divorce between the parties.  Fault is not a consideration in the determination of Interim Periodic Support and a spouse cannot waive interim support by virtue of a matrimonial or prenuptial agreement.  

 A court may award Final Periodic Support when a spouse has not been at fault prior to the filing of a petition for divorce and is in need of support.  Again, the court will consider the needs of the spouse requesting support and the ability of the other spouse to pay support.  If awarded, an obligation to pay Final Periodic Support cannot begin until an award of Interim Periodic Support is terminated.

It is imperative for an attorney litigating spousal support issues to comprehend, synthesize and convey the financials relating to each parties' income and expenses to the trier of fact.  As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst ®, Kevin Edler has been trained to analyze financial data concerning income and expenses.