WILL I HAVE TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT IF I HAVE

ALWAYS BEEN A HOMEMAKER?A Guide for Divorcing Couples and Individuals

DIVORCING SPOUSES MUST BECOME SELF SUPPORTING

In most cases, when you divorce, you must become self-supporting

This means you are required to return to work even if you have

always been a homemaker

The court may award temporary spousal support to give you time to prepare for the EMPLOYMENT WORLD AND TO FIND A JOB

VOLUNTARY EXCEPTIONS

While the court will typically require you to get a job even if you’ve been a homemaker, you and your spouse

can come to another agreement

If your spouse would prefer you to continue staying at home with the

children after divorce, he or she can agree to pay more in spousal and child support to allow you to remain at home

Be sure to have a court order specifying these payment amounts to protect yourself and ensure you have

income coming in

OTHER EXCEPTIONS

The court can also make exceptions on the rule of requiring

a spouse to be self-supporting

The court can make an exception in cases where a child is very

young or has special needs

Under these circumstances, the court may allow you to remain

at home to address the child’s needs and may order a larger

support amount to make staying at home possible

WHEN WORK DOESN’T PAY

If the cost of daycare or other childcare is so high that it would negate the benefits of working, the court may also not require a non-working spouse to return

to the workforce

The court would also take this into account when determining the amount of spousal support

that should be received

An Attorney Can Help

We invite you to contact us at (925) 314-2320 to

schedule a consultation

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