3. Go to court
Question & Answer
What should we do if we can’t agree on spousal support?If you and your partner still cannot agree on even with the help of a family law professional, or if this is not the right option for you, one of you will have to start a family law court case.
Going to court can be a complicated process and it can take a lot of time. It can be stressful and expensive, but it is sometimes necessary to decide your issues.
This family law court process flowchart explains each step in a family law court case. It tells you what happens and what you have to do if you start a court case or if you're responding to a court case your partner started.
A family court makes decisions using the family law rules and laws. Courts use the (SSAGs) to help them make decisions about spousal support. These are only guidelines, not laws.
The SSAG formula calculates a range of low, middle, and high support amounts, as well as the length of time spousal support might be paid. This can help you or a judge decide what amount of spousal support is appropriate and for how long, depending on the facts of your case.
You can talk to a lawyer who can help you understand what the law says about spousal support. A lawyer can also explain why you might choose to go to court and help you through the process.
If you can't afford to hire a lawyer for your whole case, some lawyers provide “unbundled” or “limited scope” services. This means you pay them to help you with part of your case.
If you can't afford to hire a lawyer at all, you may be able to find legal help in other places.
