If I have to go to court to decide spousal support, how can I best prepare?

You can best prepare by firstly, hiring a lawyer.

It might also be beneficial to work out an arrangement with your former spouse/partner beforehand to present to the court. This can have the effect of reducing the time that you will need to spend in court as well as the cost.

If that proves to be impossible then you should gather all necessary and important income information that is relevant to making determinations about support or that may be inputted into the appropriate formula.

Offering the best possible and up-to-date financial information is crucial so that the most accurate support payment can be awarded. It is also of utmost importance that all financial and income information be presented to the court when making a determination about support because if it is later discovered that it was not disclosed (and you are the paying spouse) then you may be required to pay support retroactively so that the support payment reflects your full and complete financial situation.