Long Term Divorces (20+ Years)

Gillespie, Shields & Associates

Spouses who are planning to divorce after being married for 20 years or are usually subjected to a different set of legal circumstances.  This is especially true if one of the spouses remained domestic while the other spouse pursued his/her education and career.  For example, if a wife stayed at home, raised the children and handled household responsibilities on a full-time basis while her husband served as the primary income provider, the wife may be eligible for spousal support.  This is due to the fact that the wife did not have a career of her own and therefore depended on her husband’s income. 

When the courts review a case that is comparable to the aforementioned example, a judge may decide to award the wife alimony because she is considered dependent and because she was married to her spouse for over 20 years.  In matters involving spousal support, the court will always consider the length of the marriage before making a final ruling regarding alimony.  The longer the marriage, the more likely a spouse is to get alimony on a long-term basis. Additionally, in cases where one spouse is retired or close to retirement, the dependent spouse may request that he/she receives part of the spouse’s retirement benefits or pension.

Arizona Family Lawyers

Helping Clients in Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler & Gilbert

Spouses who have decided to divorce after a marriage of 20 plus years should always review their legal options and rights with a qualified Phoenix divorce lawyer, like the lawyers at Gillespie, Shields & Associates.  At our Arizona family law firm, we know that long-term divorces can be quite complicated because there is usually an abundance of assets, liabilities, history and emotional issues.  We aim to serve as our clients reliable legal advocates by protecting their best interests during the divorce process and by making sure their needs are considered.

If you are looking for an empathetic Phoenix divorce attorney, do not hesitate to contact Gillespie, Shields & Associates today!