A spouse is awarded maintenance if they lack sufficient income to provide for their needs. Various factors are taken into consideration by the court as to whether or not maintenance will be granted, including: The length of the marriage. The age and health of the spouses.
Typically, the judge will take 20% of the lower-earning spouse's income and subtract that number from 30% of the higher-earning spouse's income. For example, one spouse makes $100,000, and the other makes $20,000. Thirty percent of $100,000 is $30,000, and 20% of $20,000 is $4,000.
For one child, you take 17% of the parents' combined income, for two children you take 25%, for three children you take 29%, for four children you take 31% and for five children you take no less than 35% of the parents' combined income and this percentage amount represents the basic child support obligation.
In most cases, if a spouse can work and their former spouse cannot afford to provide spousal support, the court can deny alimony. It is pertinent to note that New York is a no-fault divorce state, meaning both parties could cite fault grounds, however, it will not affect whether a spouse is granted spousal maintenance.
After a divorce, it's common for one spouse to make payments to the other as part of the divorce agreement. These payments can be alimony, child support or a mix of both.
Although both parents are entitled to an attorney for a child support petition in Family Court, they are not entitled to have one assigned if they cannot afford one (unless the parent is accused of violating an existing order).
You can get Spousal Support through Family Court. A Support Magistrate will handle your case – not a Judge. Support Magistrates only hear Child Support and Spousal Support cases. It isn't necessary for you to have a lawyer in Family Court, but you can get one if you want.