The marital standard of living refers to the lifestyle a couple enjoyed during their marriage. It represents the financial and material circumstances that were customary for the couple before their separation or divorce.
When determining spousal support (alimony) in divorce cases, the marital standard of living is often considered by the court as a factor. The idea is to ensure that the supported spouse is able to maintain a similar lifestyle after the divorce, to the extent that it is financially feasible. The goal is to mitigate any unfair economic disparities that may arise because of the divorce.
In family law, the term "4320 factors" refers to a specific set of factors that are considered by the court when determining spousal support (alimony) awards in divorce cases. It is often referred to as the "4320 factors" based on California Family Code Section 4320, which outlines these factors.
The purpose of these factors is to evaluate the needs of the supported spouse, as well as the ability of the supporting spouse to pay spousal support. Some of the factors considered include the length of the marriage, age and health of the parties, earning capacity of each spouse, their respective assets and debts, the supported party's contribution to the marriage, and more.
It's important to note that these factors may vary depending on the jurisdiction as family laws differ between states. If you have specific questions or concerns about the factors considered in your family law case in California, please contact our office for a consultation so that we can further discuss alimony and your specific 4320 factors.