On a spousal support basis, a homemaker is not required to seek employment, pawn jewelry, or exhaust credit before they are entitled to spousal support as long as need is shown. Further, an unemployed individual need not pauperize themselves by selling assets to make a cash outlay for litigation, nor are they put to the election of spending their money for living expenses or the preparation of their case. It is not so, however, if an individual has ample funds for both.
See Stibbs v. Stibbs, 38 Wn. 2d 565, 231 P. 2d 310 (1951); Stringfellow v. Stringfellow, 53 Wn. 2d 359, 333 P. 2d 936 (1959)
Authored by Wolfgang R. Anderson, Attorney at Law
