Columbus Spousal Support Attorney

When one spouse has been dependent on the other over the course of a marriage that is ending in divorce, alimony or spousal support is a way to address the needs of that soon-to-be financially independent individual. Perhaps the dependent wife or husband gave up educational and career opportunities in the past in order to follow and support the wage earner.

Whether you are the dependent spouse in need of spousal support, or the wage earner seeking reasonable limits to the alimony you may be asked to pay, contact Dougherty, Hanneman & Snedaker, LLC, in Columbus, Ohio.

It May Depend on the Judge

Unlike child support, which is determined by state guidelines, spousal support is a subjective aspect of divorce. The range of alimony amounts awarded in Ohio varies greatly from county to county, magistrate to magistrate, and judge to judge. It is important to hire experienced lawyers to protect your rights and advocate in your best interest. The higher your and your spouse's incomes and assets are in a marital dissolution case, the higher the stakes are with regard to both parties' likely ultimate net worth.

Spousal Support May Be the Most Important Aspect of Your Divorce

In many high net-worth divorce cases, the question of spousal support becomes the most important issue, either for the dependent spouse, the wage earner spouse or both. We have the latest and most sophisticated computer software and other tools necessary to help project the tax consequences and long-term benefits or liabilities that may be created by a particular mix of asset division, alimony and (if it applies) child support.

Enlist a Professional Team

We bring in other professionals as needed, such as CPAs and divorce financial planners, to help sort out the pros and cons of proposed settlement agreements. Our consultants are prepared to serve as expert witnesses if our clients' divorce cases go to trial.

What About Uncle Sam?

Child support is not subject to income tax. It is not deductible or declarable income. Spousal support, on the other hand, may be deductible for the payor and required as included income for the payee. In high asset divorce cases in particular, intricate negotiations may be necessary to determine the most equitable and favorable settlement.

Regardless of the level of acrimony between divorcing spouses, nearly all divorcing clients of Dougherty, Hanneman, & Snedaker, LLC, agree that it is desirable to keep as much money in the family, and out of the hands of the IRS, as possible. The three parties to the divorce (husband, wife and the IRS) are all taken into account when our law firm handles a high-asset Ohio divorce.

Contact Us

Please contact the attorneys at Dougherty, Hanneman and Snedaker for a confidential consultation with an Ohio State Bar Association Certified Specialist in Family Relations Law regarding your family law issue. Attorneys Douglas Dougherty, James Hanneman and Robert “Chip” Snedaker are three of just ninety-nine attorneys (as of January 1, 2008) in the state of Ohio, who have earned the designation of Certified Specialist, Family Relations Law.