Alimony Attorney in Sugar Land

Protecting Your Financial Future After Divorce

Divorce can turn your financial life upside down. Whether you expect to pay support or you depend on your spouse’s income, questions about alimony and spousal maintenance can create real anxiety. If you live in or around Sugar Land, you do not have to sort through these issues alone.

At Diggs & Sadler, we help clients understand how Texas spousal maintenance laws apply to their specific circumstances and work to protect what they have built. Our team of family law attorneys has more than 125 years of combined experience handling complex divorces and support disputes for people across Texas, including those whose cases are heard in Fort Bend County courts.

To discuss your situation with our Sugar Land alimony attorney, you can contact us at (713) 766-5355.

Why Work With Our Firm?

We use a team based approach on every case. Your situation is not handled in isolation. Multiple attorneys review the financial information, legal issues, and strategic options involved in your matter. This collaborative approach helps us identify important details such as unvested bonuses, business interests, or gaps in work history that may affect spousal maintenance or contractual alimony.

Leadership also matters. Cindy Diggs is Board Certified in Family Law and Civil Trial Law and has been recognized as “Forbes Best Divorce Lawyer Houston 2024.” These credentials reflect deep familiarity with the Texas Family Code and courtroom experience with high stakes disputes. Judith Sadler is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law and brings more than 30 years of experience evaluating employment relationships, compensation structures, and workplace issues that often influence earning capacity and support questions.

Our firm has been honored with recognitions such as inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America from 2021 through 2025, “Top Women Attorneys in Texas 2024,” and “Matrimonial Law Firm of the Year in Texas, 2022.” These are independent confirmations of the quality of our work. Just as important, our philosophy is simple and personal. We listen. We understand. We fight. We shape our strategy around your goals and your well being, and we work to guide you through some of the most financially and emotionally challenging decisions you may ever face.

How Spousal Maintenance Works in Texas

Spousal maintenance is not automatic. Texas law sets eligibility standards. Courts generally look at whether a spouse will have enough resources to meet their minimum reasonable needs after the divorce, as well as factors such as the length of the marriage, any history of family violence that led to a criminal conviction, disability of a spouse, or the need to care for a child with significant special needs. Even when maintenance is available, there are statutory caps on the amount and on the typical duration of payments.

Contractual alimony is different. This is maintenance that spouses agree to in a divorce decree, often to tailor arrangements more closely to their financial and tax goals. It can be useful when one spouse needs more flexibility than the statutory structure allows. However, it is still subject to careful drafting and negotiation. Our role as a spousal maintenance attorney is to help you evaluate both maintenance and contractual options so you understand what each might mean for your future.

Courts often consider factors such as:

• The length of the marriage and the standard of living established.
• Each spouse’s current income, earning capacity, and employment history.
• Contributions as a homemaker, caregiver, or maintainer of the other spouse’s career.
• Health conditions or disabilities that affect the ability to work.
• Misconduct such as family violence may weigh in maintenance decisions.

Common Spousal Support Concerns

If you have been financially dependent on your spouse, you may fear that divorce will leave you without enough to cover your basic expenses. Perhaps you took time out of the workforce to raise children, support a demanding career, or care for a family member. You may worry that your skills are outdated or that health issues will limit your earning capacity. We work with you to evaluate what support you may be eligible to seek and how long it might reasonably last, and we discuss strategies for rebuilding financial independence over time.

If you are the higher earning spouse, your concerns are often different. You may feel that your spouse could work but chooses not to, or that your variable income, such as bonuses, commissions, or stock, will be misunderstood. For business owners and professionals who live in Sugar Land or commute between Sugar Land and Houston and have complex compensation packages, these questions become even more pressing. Our knowledge of employment structures, informed in part by Judith Sadler’s labor and employment background, helps us analyze income and earning capacity fairly and present a clearer financial picture to the court.

High conflict situations can also complicate support. Allegations of substance abuse, mental health issues, or financial control are not unusual in long marriages. We are familiar with navigating these dynamics, including for LGBTQ+ families and international households. We work to separate emotional conflict from the financial analysis, so support arrangements are grounded in law and evidence, not only in blame.

Clients often come to us in situations such as:

• A long-term marriage where one spouse left a promising career to manage the home and children.
• A mid-length marriage with a sharp income gap between spouses and questions about future earning potential.
• Professional or business-owning couples with fluctuating income, stock options, or bonuses that make support calculations less straightforward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I qualify for spousal maintenance in Texas?

Qualification depends on your ability to meet minimum reasonable needs and other statutory factors. Courts look at the length of the marriage, work history, health, and sometimes family violence findings. We review your full situation and explain whether spousal maintenance or contractual alimony might be realistic options.

How long can spousal maintenance last after divorce?

Texas law sets general limits based on the length of the marriage and specific circumstances. Longer marriages may allow for longer potential maintenance. Courts also consider efforts to become self-supporting. We discuss typical ranges for your facts so you can plan your next steps.

Can your team handle complex income or bonuses?

Yes. Our attorneys frequently work with business owners, executives, and professionals who receive bonuses, commissions, or stock. With board certification in Labor and Employment Law on our team, we are comfortable reviewing employment agreements, compensation structures, and business records that affect support analysis.

Can spousal maintenance be changed later on?

In many cases, court-ordered maintenance may be modified if there is a material and substantial change in circumstances, such as job loss or serious illness. Contractual alimony depends on the terms of the agreement. We review your orders or proposed terms and explain what future changes might be possible.

What To Do If You Are Worried?

Before you meet with an attorney, consider taking these steps:

• Gather tax returns, pay records, and bank statements from the last few years.
• List all monthly living expenses and outstanding debts in as much detail as you can.
• Note your work history, education, and any gaps in employment or caregiving roles.
• Write down your main financial concerns and goals for life after divorce.
• Collect any court documents you have already received, including temporary orders.

If you are worried about alimony or maintenance in Sugar Land, contact our firm to talk through your concerns and start building a plan that fits your life. Call us at (713) 766-5355.