Spousal Maintenance Lawyers in Alvin, TX

Trial-Ready Alimony Attorneys Serving Brazoria & Galveston Counties Since 1985

At Robert D. Clements Jr. Law Group, LLLP, we know how challenging and sensitive spousal maintenance cases can be. Whether you’re seeking financial support or facing an obligation to provide it, our trial-ready team is prepared to advocate for your best interests throughout the process. We serve clients across Galveston and Brazoria counties and the surrounding areas with the personalized attention each situation deserves.

Since 1985, we’ve combined the resources of a full legal team with the personal touch of a boutique practice. Our founding attorney holds double board certification in Personal Injury and Civil Trial Law, placing him in the top 2% of attorneys statewide. That courtroom depth shapes how we approach every case. We offer bilingual services in English and Spanish, and clients can often speak directly with an attorney on day one.

Call (281) 809-0029 or reach out online to schedule a free consultation with our Alvin spousal maintenance lawyers.

What Is Spousal Maintenance in Texas?

Texas law recognizes three forms of financial support between spouses during or after a divorce. Temporary spousal support covers the period while a divorce is still pending, helping a lower-earning spouse meet basic needs before the case is resolved. Court-ordered spousal maintenance, governed by the Texas Family Code, is awarded after the divorce is finalized based on specific statutory criteria. Contractual alimony is a voluntary agreement negotiated between the parties and enforceable as a private contract rather than a court order; it isn’t subject to statutory caps on amount or duration, and if the paying spouse stops paying, the remedy is a civil lawsuit rather than a court enforcement action.

Unlike child support, which is intended solely for the care of children, spousal maintenance is designed to assist a spouse who lacks the financial ability to meet their own basic needs independently. Understanding which type of support applies to your situation and how each is enforced is one of the first things our alimony attorneys work through with you.

How Texas Courts Determine Spousal Maintenance

Texas law applies strict criteria when deciding whether spousal maintenance is appropriate and what the terms should be. A spouse seeking court-ordered maintenance must demonstrate a lack of sufficient property to meet minimum reasonable needs and satisfy at least one qualifying condition: the other spouse was convicted of or received deferred adjudication for family violence within two years before or during the divorce filing; the requesting spouse can’t work due to a physical or mental disability; the requesting spouse has custody of a child with a disability requiring substantial care; or the marriage lasted at least 10 years and the requesting spouse lacks the ability to earn sufficient income.

Courts weigh several factors when setting the amount and duration of maintenance, including:

• The length of the marriage
• The financial resources of each party following property division
• The age, health, education, and earning capacity of both spouses
• Either spouse’s contributions to the marriage, such as homemaking or supporting the other spouse’s career
• Any history of domestic violence within the relationship

Maintenance is capped at the lesser of $5,000 per month or 20% of the obligor’s average gross monthly income. Duration limits are tied to the length of the marriage: up to 5 years for marriages of 10 to 20 years or where family violence was a factor, up to 7 years for marriages of 20 to 30 years, and up to 10 years for marriages lasting 30 or more years. Indefinite maintenance is available only when the recipient can’t work due to a disabling condition. For Alvin clients, these cases are heard at the Brazoria County District Court in Angleton.