- You put your spouse through school or supported their career. If you worked while your spouse got an education or started a business, for example, then you can be compensated for the money spent nurturing your ex-spouse’s career. This is called “reimbursement alimony.”[10]
- You can’t support yourself yet. In some marriages, one person stays home and forfeits a career to raise the children. After a divorce, you need time to get an education and/or find a job. In these situations, you can qualify for “rehabilitative alimony,” which is often temporary. It is also called “transitional support.”[11] It lasts long enough for you to get on your feet.
- You’re disabled. Courts will also award alimony where a spouse has a disability and would have to go on government assistance if no alimony was awarded.
- You’ve been married a certain number of years. Some states still have generous alimony laws and will give you permanent alimony. These states may see alimony as a way for a divorced spouse to maintain his or her standard of living.[12] You should check with a qualified attorney.
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Alimony, also known as spousal support, is a court-ordered payment (in either lump-sum or continuous payments) from one spouse to the other after the dissolution of their marriage. Alimony is not child support. Child support is paid in order to provide for children. Alimony, on the other hand, is intended to provide financial support for a period of time for the spouse who made less or was financially supported by the other during the marriage.[1] A family law judge determines who is to pay and receive alimony based on state laws and several factors, such as how long the marriage lasted, the financial situation of each spouse, the health and age of each spouse, their earning potential, and their general “contributions” to the marriage.[2] There is no standard formula for calculating alimony, as the process varies based on the state you live in, the presiding judge, and circumstances particular to each marriage. However, you can often anticipate the type and length of alimony payments.
Note: this article discusses the process of calculating alimony in the United States. The process may be very different in other countries.
Divorce: Child Support and Alimony - Child support and alimony can be a contentious part of divorce. Learn how child support and alimony payments are calculated and the factors that can affect each.