Spousal Maintenance
At Cullimore Dutton, our experienced family law solicitors are here to provide more than just legal advice. We offer calm, compassionate support during some of life’s most difficult transitions, helping you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Spousal maintenance, sometimes referred to as spousal support, may be awarded when one party requires ongoing financial assistance after divorce. Whether you're seeking support or responding to a claim, we’ll guide you through your rights and responsibilities, ensuring any agreement or court order reflects your long-term needs.
Our holistic approach combines legal and financial expertise under one roof, allowing us to deliver rounded, practical guidance that puts your financial wellbeing first.
With much experience working with a diverse range of clients, we can offer practical advice, supporting you to navigate your finances in the aftermath of a divorce, or civil partnership dissolution.
Specifically, we can help with:
- Legal advice on spousal maintenance
- Negotiating fair spousal maintenance agreements
- Representing you in court
- Enforcing unpaid Spousal Maintenance Orders
Contact our spousal maintenance solicitors in Chester
To speak to a member of our expert family law team about spousal maintenance, please contact us today.
Call 01244 356789 or complete the enquiry form on our homepage, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Our spousal maintenance order services
Legal advice on spousal maintenance
Determining whether spousal maintenance applies in your case can feel overwhelming. We’ll help you understand your rights and obligations based on a full assessment of your financial position, earning potential, and family responsibilities.
Our team will explain what spousal support may look like for you, whether temporary, long-term, or unnecessary altogether. We provide clear, tailored advice and explore the best way forward for your circumstances, including:
- Reviewing eligibility and financial need
- Assessing income and lifestyle during the marriage
- Considering childcare arrangements and dependency
- Advising on clean breaks or ongoing support
We realise that arranging such matters in the aftermath of a divorce can be emotional and stressful. Rest assured, we will always provide empathetic support.
If you are unsure of your options, and would like to discuss matters today, please do get in touch with our experts at Cullimore Dutton.
Negotiating spousal maintenance agreements
We can support clients to reach spousal maintenance agreements constructively and efficiently, through out of court negotiations. We’ll guide you through the negotiation process, offering clear, informed advice at every step to ensure your position is protected.
Whether through mediation or solicitor-led discussions, we aim to help you achieve a practical, fair outcome. We can assist with:
- Calculating a fair level of maintenance
- Agreeing on payment duration and review points
- Drafting legally binding consent orders
- Advising on tax, pensions, and financial planning
As your spousal support lawyers, we’ll ensure all agreements are sustainable and in your best interest. With much experience in supporting clients, we can answer any questions you have, ensuring that matters are clear before we proceed.
Court proceedings
If you and your partner are unable to reach a spousal maintenance agreement out of court, we can support you to secure a Spousal Maintenance Order, through the relevant court proceedings. We’ll work to protect your financial future while keeping stress to a minimum.
From preparing evidence to court representation, our family lawyers will handle every stage with care. Our goal is always a fair, proportionate result based on your needs and future security.
We realise that court proceedings can feel daunting, and will ensure that you receive the sensitive and practical assistance you need.
Enforcing court orders
If your ex-partner is not making agreed or court-ordered spousal maintenance payments, we can advise you on your legal options. At Cullimore Dutton, we can act quickly and firmly to help you recover what’s owed.
In such circumstances, we can assist clients in a range of ways, including:
- Apply for an attachment of earnings order
- Freeze bank accounts with third-party debt orders
- Enforce the order using bailiffs or High Court enforcement
Our team will take swift action to safeguard your financial wellbeing and reduce further disruption. To discuss your needs with our sensitive team today, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Why choose Cullimore Dutton for spousal maintenance solicitors?
Cullimore Dutton is one of Chester’s most respected and long-standing law firms, with a heritage dating back to 1792. Over the years, we’ve supported individuals and families through some of life’s most challenging transitions, including complex financial separations.
Clients trust us because we combine expert legal guidance with empathy, discretion, and a clear focus on securing the right outcome.
What sets us apart is our ability to provide legal and financial advice under one roof. Our in-house financial planning team works alongside our family law solicitors to focus on every aspect of your financial future, from income protection and pensions to asset planning and long-term security. This integrated approach is particularly beneficial in spousal support and divorce maintenance matters, where financial clarity is key.
When you instruct Cullimore Dutton, you’ll benefit from more care, more guidance and more protection.
Frequently asked questions about spousal maintenance
What is spousal maintenance in the UK?
Spousal maintenance is a financial arrangement where one ex-spouse provides regular payments to the other following a divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership.
It is designed to support the financially weaker party where they are unable to meet their reasonable needs without assistance, especially in cases where there is a significant income disparity between the two individuals.
It is not awarded automatically and is considered on a case-by-case basis. The court’s main focus is fairness , both parties should, as far as possible, be able to maintain a standard of living that reflects the marriage, and the goal is to help the recipient eventually achieve financial independence where realistic.
How do I apply for spousal maintenance in the UK?
You can apply for spousal maintenance as part of your financial settlement during divorce, you may be able to reach an agreement out of court. If it is not possible to do so, you can apply for a Spousal Maintenance Order through Court proceedings, and with the guidance of a solicitor.
The process requires both parties to make a full and honest disclosure of their financial circumstances so the court can assess the level of support, if any, that is appropriate.
How much is spousal maintenance in the UK?
There is no set formula for calculating spousal maintenance in England and Wales. Instead, the court takes a discretionary approach based on what is considered fair. It will examine each party’s income, financial needs, responsibilities (such as childcare), standard of living during the marriage, and any other relevant factors.
The goal is to ensure the receiving party can meet their reasonable living expenses without causing undue hardship to the payer. Maintenance might be ordered for a fixed period until a certain event, for example, until the recipient becomes financially independent.
Can spousal maintenance be changed or stopped?
Yes, Spousal Maintenance Orders can be varied or discharged if there is a significant change in circumstances for either party. This might include the loss of a job, a substantial change in income, the retirement of the payer, or the recipient entering a new relationship. In some cases, maintenance may also be reduced or increased based on changing needs or unexpected expenses.
Is spousal maintenance taxable in the UK?
In the UK, spousal maintenance is not treated as taxable income for the recipient, nor is it tax-deductible for the person making the payments. As a result, payments do not need to be declared as income, and they don’t affect the payer’s taxable income.
Contact our spousal maintenance solicitors in Chester
To speak to a member of our expert family law team about spousal maintenance, please contact us today.
Call 01244356789 or complete the enquiry form on our homepage, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.