Dodd & Dodd Attorneys, PLLC

Dodd & Dodd Attorneys, PLLC Louisville Kentucky

(502) 584-1108

Reducing Maintenance through Vocational Evaluation in Louisville

Vocational Evaluation

We are often asked “What should I do if I want to minimize the amount of maintenance I have to pay my soon to be ex-wife?  Contact the experienced divorce and family law attorneys at Dodd & Dodd and learn more about reducing maintenance through vocational evaluation in a Louisville divorce.

There are actually a number of legal ways to reduce the amount of a potential maintenance award.  The first step may surprise you: stop working overtime. If you work overtime and continue to do so, the basis of your income in the calculation will be higher than your actual income because it includes overtime compensation. However, you are not required to work overtime and if you do not receive this income then the Court will not consider it in determining the amount of income available for support.

Another method to reduce the amount of potential support is to show that the supported spouse actually has the ability to engage in gainful employment and contribute to his or her own support. To avoid a ‘he says; she says’ dispute, frequently an expert is engaged to inform the court of the earning ability of the supported spouse. This is called a vocational evaluation. Kentucky family law clearly provides the judge with a basis for seeking a vocational evaluation which should consider many factors including an analysis of the potential recipient of maintenance including, but not limited to:

  • age and health
  • education, marketable skills, employment history and the potential of the present employment market
  • The ability and resources to gain any needed additional training and or skills

The focus of the vocational evaluation is to assess the party’s ability to obtain employment which would allow the party to maintain herself or himself at or close to the marital standard of living.
The vocational evaluation report usually provides valuable evidence the court will consider in determining the proper amount and duration of potential maintenance.

Learn more about maintenance, vocational evaluation and the strategies which will help you to accomplish your goals. We invite you to review the strong recommendations of our former clients and contact us or call 502-584-1108 to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced divorce and family law attorneys.