How long do you have to pay alimony in a short or long marriage

logo
|


If you are getting a divorce, you may be wondering how long you will have to pay (or receive) alimony. The answer to this question depends on a number of factors, including the state in which you live, the length of your marriage, and your financial circumstances.

In most states, there is no set duration for alimony payments. Instead, the amount and duration of alimony are decided on a case-by-case basis, taking into account a number of factors such as the length of the marriage, each spouse’s earning power and ability to support themselves, the standard of living during the marriage, and each spouse’s age and health.

The general rule is that shorter marriages (less than ten years) will result in shorter alimony payments than longer marriages. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, if one spouse gave up their career to stay home with the children or care for an ill family member, they may be entitled to longer-term alimony payments in order to give them time to retrain or re-enter the workforce.

In some states, there is a formula for calculating alimony payments based on factors such as the length of the marriage and each spouse’s incomes. However, even in these states, the court retains discretion to deviate from the formula if it finds that it would be unjust or inappropriate in a particular case.

If you are going through a divorce, it is important to consult with an experienced family law attorney who can advise you on how alimony is likely to be treated in your state and help you negotiate an agreeable settlement with your ex-spouse.

What is alimony?


Alimony is a payment from one spouse to the other to help support the recipient spouse after a divorce. The amount of payment and the duration of payments are decided by the court, but may be agreed upon by the divorcing spouses as part of their divorce agreement.

In general, alimony is paid for a set period of time or until the recipient spouse remarries or becomes self-supporting. If the recipient spouse cohabitates with another partner, that may also be grounds for termination of alimony payments.

How long do you have to pay alimony in a short marriage?


Under the law, if you are married for less than 10 years, you are not required to pay alimony for any period of time beyond the date when your divorce is final.

How long do you have to pay alimony in a long marriage?


The Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act, although not law in every state, is typically used as a guideline for states to follow when dealing with divorce cases. The UMDA states that in marriages lasting ten years or less, alimony will generally not be ordered by the court, unless there are other circumstances that would warrant it.For marriages lasting longer than ten years, alimony will generally be ordered for a period no longer than half the length of the marriage.

Conclusion


Generally, marriages that last less than 10 years are considered short-term marriages, while those that last 10 years or longer are considered long-term.

The length of the marriage is just one factor that a court will consider when making an alimony award, however. Other important considerations include:
– each spouse’s age and health;
– each spouse’s earning capacity;
– each spouse’s education and job skills;
– the standard of living that the spouses enjoyed during the marriage;
– the couple’s ability to maintain the standard of living after divorce; and
– the impact of caring for any minor children on either spouse’s ability to earn an income.

The post How long do you have to pay alimony in a short or long marriage first appeared on Daniels Law, P.A..
Categories: 
Share To: