Tips From Vocational Experts: Family Law Earning Capacity

Unfortunately, far too many marriages end in divorce. In Washington State, there are nearly 21,500 divorces per year.

Many people assume that the legal fight ends when a judge officially terminates a marriage. However, many couples end up back in court when their circumstances change. For example, it is not uncommon for former spouses to find a more lucrative career or remarry.

Earning capacity is a popular topic in family law that is often revisited even after a divorce is finalized. Read on for a guide to family law earning capacity. Explore topics such as an employability assessment and a family law vocational evaluation.

What Is Family Law Earning Capacity?

Earning capacity is a legal term that is important in family law. It refers to a person’s ability to earn money over a year.

It is largely determined by the person’s education level and the skills they have acquired. Years of experience are an important factor in calculating a person’s earning capacity. Specialized training may also weigh on this assessment.

You may be wondering why this information is necessary. Lawyers for both sides need to consider a partners ability to earn compensation. This way, an equitable financial agreement can be reached during divorce proceedings.

A divorcee’s earning capacity is utilized to calculate child support payments. Spousal support is based on earning capacity as well.

What is an Employability Assessment?

For many divorced persons, determining their earning capacity is not as simple as reviewing a W-2 form or prior years income tax filings. Many couples mutually decide for a partner to stay home. This may be for convenience or so that one spouse can care for their children while the other works.

Whatever the reason, the court needs to determine whether this person is employable or not. If they return to the workforce, what are their prospects of landing a job?

This employability assessment includes a look at the persons physical condition and whether they can handle full or part-time work. Typically, this involves reviewing medical files and consultations with medical professionals.

It also considers the persons cognitive ability and whether the mental aptitude is there for employment. How much will they earn in this new occupation?

What is a Family Law Vocational Assessment?

The question of earning capacity cannot be answered by an employability assessment alone. A vocational assessment is also required to complete the picture.

This assessment considers a person’s educational background. Do they have a high school diploma or GED? Does the individual have a college degree and, if so, what did he or she major in?

The next factor looks at a person’s skill set and knowledge base. This qualitative information dictates whether the person is paid like an entry-level worker or further up the scale.

Consult With a Vocational Expert on Family Law Earning Capacity

You now have a basic understanding of earning capacity in family law. To perform earning capacity analysis, experts are likely to conduct an employability assessment and vocational evaluation.

Are you looking for an agency with a proven ability to help understand family law earning capacity? Contact Solutions Northwest today to learn how we can help you!

Our experts are knowledgeable about Family Law, ADA accommodation issues, disability and injury management, workers’ compensation and more! We are happy to assist you!

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Divorce proceedings are notoriously tricky to navigate. There are often many different factors at play that can make the outcome unpredictable.

A lawyer is expected to always facilitate the very best result for her client, but obviously, this is difficult to guarantee. There are, of course, certain things a family law team can do to sway the odds in their client’s favor. Having a vocational evaluation carried out is one of them.

Vocational assessment in divorce can help to secure a fair and satisfactory decision. If you’d like to learn about some of the many benefits of opting to go down this route, read on to find out more now.

What is a Family Law Vocational Evaluation?

Within the context of divorce proceedings, a vocational assessment evaluates the employability of one of the parties involved. This is done with the purpose of assessing their ability to obtain employment and, in turn, earn an income.

These vocational assessments are useful in helping to determine the amount of support a spouse can contribute to their own support. As well as the support of any children involved.

What Does an Employability Assessment Entail?

So, if you do decide to hire the services of a vocational evaluation expert, what can you expect from the process? Assessing a person’s employability involves looking at many different factors. The employability assessor will need to take into account things such as the person’s age, health, education level, skills, job history, medical history, and what training they have received if any.

The employability assessment will involve an in-depth interview with the person in question. This is to verify any information given about them.

The assessor may also carry out certain assessments, such as skills tests. Finally, vocational testing will take place.

Benefits of Vocational Assessment in Divorce

Carrying out this type of vocational assessment, and having expert vocational testimony be heard during the court proceedings offers many advantages to your case and your client. It can be difficult to accurately determine a person’s earning power. However, this is exactly what this type of evaluation aims to do.

Expert vocational testimony is something that judges typically have a lot of time for and pay a lot of attention to. It gives credence to any claims you’re making about your client’s earning capacity.

Furthermore, vocational evaluations are considered highly persuasive because they are usually seen as being a more objective look at a spouse’s situation. The main benefit of a vocational assessment is that it makes a stronger case for your client to receive a favorable settlement.

Invest in an Expert Vocational Evaluation to Ensure Success

Calling for a vocational assessment in divorce is a great move to make for any level of case. While we have you here, we’d love to invite you to consider our vocational consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc. Our family law consultants have the expertise and the experience to carry out thorough assessments and deliver expert vocational testimony. Get in touch with us today to discuss our services further.

Contact experts at Solutions Northwest Inc now to speak to a Family Law expert!

At Solutions Northwest Inc., we can help you find a vocational expert or give you general vocational consulting. Our vocational experts are involved in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and family law.

If you need our guidance, our legal experts are ready to guide you through the process.

Contact us today to make an appointment.

Subscribe to our blog for more work related tips from Solutions Northwest, Inc., experts available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, WA.

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Divorce proceedings can be rife with messy details and resentment. The very nature of divorce is complex and building the appropriate team to achieve the desired outcome is crucial.

Apart from the crucial job of the divorce attorney, building a good divorce legal team may also include a financial advisor, a therapist, and a vocational expert. By having someone who’s trained in vocational assessments, the team will be better equipped to handle the speculative nature of earning capacity.

Continue reading for 5 straightforward benefits of having a vocational assessment for a divorce case.

1. Earning Capacity

Vocational family law experts are trained to evaluate skill sets in relation to today’s economic job market. They’re able to assess what these skills will bring in in terms of income both current and future. In other words, they are there to assess current as well as future earning capacity.

This is crucial as this type of financial evaluation can determine child support or alimony payment amounts. Generally, estranged spouses will not want to pay high amounts of alimony or child support. They may claim fewer earnings or job loss during proceedings to avoid paying high amounts.

Vocational experts will be able to cut through the noise to determine true sources of income.

2. Employability

On the opposite side, a spouse may claim their husband or wife is capable of earning more than they actually are. This is where a vocational expert comes into play.

Say a husband or wife gave up their time in the workplace to raise children from home. Re-entering the workforce and knowing what they can offer in terms of employability can be difficult. A vocational assessment will determine what skills may transfer to the current workforce and which skills may need updating.

3. Second Opinion

Paying out alimony or child support can get tricky under the lens of earning potential. A husband or wife may have specific workplace skillsets but may be unwilling to put them to use taking a lower-paying job in order to avoid paying more child support.

It is important for both sides to bring a professional opinion to the table. A vocational assessment test will be able to determine fair and reasonable future earnings for each party in question.

4. Judge’s Orders

The impact of having a vocational assessment done may persuade the judge to order reasonable terms during the divorce case. For example, if a husband or wife disagrees with the results of a vocational evaluation, evidence will need to be presented to the judge in order to refute the claim.

Judges often appoint a vocational expert of their own accord. This ensures a proper assessment of earning capacity. It allows the judge to come to a decision via expert knowledge and fact-checking.

5. Life Changes

Vocational experts are also available to document any future changes in income. They will provide a professional, vocational evaluation on changed circumstances and adjust their recommendation for paying alimony or child support payment amounts.

Vocational experts also have the expertise to provide guidance on career changes. They can help a client get back on their feet and into the workforce post-divorce.

Contact a Family Law Expert to Learn More About Vocational Assessments

A vocational assessment test will provide the judge and the courts with crucial financial and employment information. The expense now can save a great deal of money down the road.

If you are serious about equitable practices and providing the best service to your employees or clients, you should consider utilizing the Family Law Vocational Assessment.

Contact experts at Solutions Northwest Inc now to speak to a Family Law expert!

At Solutions Northwest Inc., we can help you find a vocational expert or give you general vocational consulting. Our vocational experts are involved in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and family law.

If you need our guidance, our legal experts are ready to guide you through the process.

Contact us today to make an appointment.

Subscribe to our blog for more work related tips from Solutions Northwest, Inc., experts available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, WA.

Contact the Vocational Consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below:

More than 740,000 divorces occur in the U.S. each year at a rate of 2.7 per every 1,000 people. When it comes to separations, judging who can financially support themselves is crucial. That’s where family law vocational assessments come in.

A family law vocational assessment evaluates whether each spouse can rejoin the labor market as well as their short- and long-term earning capacity. This information helps attorneys, risk managers, and HR professionals alike by determining how much money the ex-spouse may need in alimony or child support to live a decent life independently.

But what goes into a family law vocational assessment? 

That’s what we’re here to look at today. Read on to find out how a family law vocational assessment works and why it’s important every business know more about it.

What is a Family Law Vocational Assessment?

A family law vocational assessment is used when two divorcing spouses hire a vocational expert to look at their ability to join the labor market. It also looks at their long- and short-term earning capacity in the event of a divorce.

Generally speaking, vocational experts will know a lot about the labor market. They’ll research their clients’ work history, education, skills, credentials, and historical earnings.

During this assessment, vocational experts will also look at factors that affect each spouses’ employability. They’ll provide the details based on these economic factors as needed. 

What is a Family Law Vocational Assessment For?

Many workers undergo a vocational assessment to see whether their past work experience or skills translate to the job market. They can also become aware of skill gaps and fill those in as needed.

Why is a vocational assessment important in Family Law? For divorcing spouses, this informs the type of work they can look into and if they need to make any adjustments regarding their skills and qualifications. It can also inform whether certain injuries or illnesses affect potential jobs.

When it comes to family law, vocational assessments help spouses assess things like alimony or spousal support. Vocational assessments also assess trial strategies and settlement efforts.

A vocational assessment will help the court better understand the earning capacity of each spouse, which is a big factor when it comes to alimony. That way, family members won’t under- or over-pay alimony. 

Family court judges aren’t required to follow vocational assessment opinions. However, it’s an effective tool to have if someone wants more concrete evidence of earning power. 

How Do Vocational Assessments Work?

Most family law vocational assessments start with the vocational expert interviewing each spouse, either in-person or virtually. They often send out a questionnaire covering topics like employment and earning history.

The vocational assessment test takes place after the questionnaire, and the interview is complete. Vocational experts then put together an analysis that looks at a spouse’s career options, job market information, and employment actions.

They can also provide job search strategies in certain instances. Vocational experts will then consult with the spouse’s attorney to discuss options. A written report can also be requested from the vocational expert.

Finding the Right Family Law Vocational Assessment Expert

Every attorney, risk manager, and HR professional should have a vocational law expert available for consultation. Divorces have the reputation of being a complicated and messy process, but a family law vocational assessment helps smooth things out in a professional manner.

Looking for vocational law experts? Have you been Googling “Vocational Evaluation Divorce”? Contact Solutions Northwest Inc. today, and we’ll provide a solution for you ASAP!

At Solutions Northwest Inc., we can help you find a vocational expert or give you general vocational consulting. Our vocational experts are involved in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and family law.

If you need our guidance, our legal experts are ready to guide you through the process.

Contact us today to make an appointment.

Subscribe to our blog for more work related tips from Solutions Northwest, Inc., experts available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, WA.

Contact the Vocational Consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below: