H-1147              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1621

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Belcher, Jacobsen, Cole, R. King, R. Fisher, Bowman, Appelwick, Locke, Morris, Nelson, Haugen, Anderson, O'Brien, Wineberry and Brekke

Read first time 2/1/89 and referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AN ACT Relating to spousal maintenance; and amending RCW 26.09.090.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 9, chapter 157, Laws of 1973 1st ex. sess. and RCW 26.09.090 are each amended to read as follows:

          (((1))) In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, declaration of invalidity, or in a proceeding for maintenance following dissolution of the marriage by a court which lacked personal jurisdiction over the absent spouse, the court may grant a maintenance order for either spouse.  The maintenance order shall be in such amounts and for such periods of time as the court deems just, without regard to marital misconduct, after considering all relevant factors including but not limited to:

          (((a))) (1) The financial resources of the party seeking maintenance, including separate or community property apportioned to him, and his ability to meet his needs independently, including the extent to which a provision for support of a child living with the party includes a sum for that party as custodian;

          (((b))) (2) The time necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party seeking maintenance to find employment appropriate to his skill, interests, style of life, and other attendant circumstances;

          (((c))) (3) The standard of living established during the marriage;

          (((d))) (4) The duration of the marriage;

          (((e))) (5) The age, physical and emotional condition, and financial obligations of the spouse seeking maintenance; ((and))

          (((f))) (6) The ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is sought to meet his needs and financial obligations while meeting those of the spouse seeking maintenance; and

(7) Past, present, and future earning or economic capacity of both spouses, including the earning or economic capacity of the spouses that was enhanced, diminished, or foregone during marriage.