Spousal Support Attorney in Southern California

Understanding Spousal Support in California

For many people facing divorce, the amount of spousal support — also called alimony — they will receive or be required to pay is a central concern. In California, spousal support is governed by Family Code §4320 and is determined based on a balancing of specific statutory factors rather than a fixed formula.

Attorney Denise Furubotten has handled spousal support matters for 30 years, representing both paying and receiving spouses across a wide range of financial circumstances — from straightforward short-term marriages to long-term marriages with complex income structures.

Factors California Courts Consider

Under California Family Code §4320, courts consider the following factors in awarding spousal support:

• The extent to which the earning capacity of each party is sufficient to maintain the marital standard of living
• The extent to which the supported party contributed to the other party's education or career
• The ability of the supporting party to pay
• The needs of each party based on the marital standard of living
• The obligations and assets of each party
• The duration of the marriage
• The ability of the supported party to engage in gainful employment without unduly interfering with the interests of dependent children
• The age and health of each party
• Any documented history of domestic violence
• The tax consequences of a support award
• The balance of hardships to each party
• The goal that the supported party shall be self-supporting within a reasonable period of time

Temporary vs. Long-Term Spousal Support

California courts may award temporary spousal support during the pendency of a divorce proceeding to maintain the status quo, and then enter a final (permanent) spousal support order as part of the divorce judgment. For marriages under ten years, support is generally ordered for half the length of the marriage. For marriages of ten years or longer, the court retains jurisdiction over support indefinitely unless otherwise agreed.

Modification and Termination of Spousal Support

Spousal support orders can be modified or terminated upon a showing of changed circumstances — such as a significant change in either party's income, the supported party becoming self-supporting, the supported party remarrying (which automatically terminates support under Family Code §4337), or the death of either party.

Last reviewed: May 2026 · Author: Denise Furubotten, Esq.