If you are a low-earning spouse and you are going through a divorce, it’s vital that you get spousal support that will ensure that you continue living the same standard of life you used to when you were still married.

You should note that the court won’t award you spousal support—you need to work with your divorce lawyers and make your case. To help you out, here are tips you should put into place to increase your chances of getting the support:

Gather and organize your financial records

You need to collect your financial documents, such as tax returns, pay stubs, and financial statements, that will help to support your claim for spousal support. The cool thing is that it’s easy to get the documents, as all you need to do is to contact the relevant institutions.

Once you get them, present them in a clear and organized way that will be easy for the court to follow.

Be honest

Many people looking to score big on spousal support are often dishonest. Due to this, they will give the wrong amounts on their expenses. Remember that the court can easily tell when you are lying, so always be honest.

Being honest starts with providing accurate financial information when the court asks you to do it. This means that your income, assets, expenses, and liability records that you present in court should be fair and accurate.

Many people rush to hide assets to show that they are in need of spousal support. To avoid being labeled as a fraud, which can be punished in court, provide accurate information about all of your assets and income, including any separate assets you might have acquired without the knowledge of your spouse.

When providing testimony in court, be as truthful as possible. Remember that you significantly damage your credibility when you lie or provide false information, which will most likely weaken your spousal support case.

Hire the right attorney

Regardless of the number of times you divorce, you need an attorney to guide you through the process. When hiring an attorney, be ultra cautious about hiring the right one.

As a rule of thumb, ensure that the attorney you hire is experienced and knows what they are doing. When hiring professionals, you will come across all manner of them, some cheaper and more expensive than others.

Regardless of how fast you want to do away with your case, don’t be in a hurry to hire the first attorney you come across—instead, take your time to interview several attorneys and hire the most qualified.

You might be tempted to hire the cheapest to save money, but this isn’t wise. This is because the cheaper attorneys are usually inexperienced and will lead you astray.

Even if the experienced attorneys are a little expensive, you should always go for them, as they usually know what they are doing. This gives you peace of mind that they are leading you in the right direction, and you don’t need to worry about things blowing in your face.

Proof that the other party can pay

You can put together the best records, but the court denies your application, especially if your ex-spouse can’t pay the amount you want them to.

To increase your chances of winning your spousal support case, put together evidence that proves the other party’s ability to pay. Work with your spousal support lawyers Fairfax VA and put together evidence of their ability to pay.

This calls you to put together your ex-spouse’s income reports, assets, expenses, etc. Again, come with honest and transparent evidence that can’t be refuted in court.