Which factor listed in DISMAL concerns the surviving spouse's financial status?

Which factor listed in DISMAL concerns the surviving spouse's financial status?

• A. Lack of financial support by surviving spouse
• B. Abandonment by surviving spouse
• C. Dissolution of property
• D. Spousal consent

Answer: (A)

DISMAL is a set of factors used to gauge how a surviving spouse is affected financially. The one that directly reflects the surviving spouse’s money situation is whether there is a lack of financial support for the survivor. If the surviving spouse isn’t receiving financial support, that clearly signals economic need and helps explain their financial status. The other items describe relationship or procedural aspects—abandonment is about the nature of the relationship, dissolution of property concerns how assets are handled in the dissolution process, and spousal consent deals with permission to act—none of which directly measure the survivor’s finances.

DISMAL is a set of factors used to gauge how a surviving spouse is affected financially. The one that directly reflects the surviving spouse’s money situation is whether there is a lack of financial support for the survivor. If the surviving spouse isn’t receiving financial support, that clearly signals economic need and helps explain their financial status. The other items describe relationship or procedural aspects—abandonment is about the nature of the relationship, dissolution of property concerns how assets are handled in the dissolution process, and spousal consent deals with permission to act—none of which directly measure the survivor’s finances.