Not all divorces qualify for alimony. Courts consider factors like the length of marriage, income disparity between spouses, and ability to be self-sufficient. Generally, the higher-earning spouse supports the lower-earning spouse to maintain their pre-divorce standard of living.
The most common type of spousal support is usually called rehabilitative alimony—because it's meant to "rehabilitate" dependent spouses by giving them financial support while they gain the education, training, or work experience needed to become self-supporting.
If the marriage lasted up to 15 years maintenance lasts 15% to 30% of the length of the marriage. If the marriage lasted 15 to 20 years, maintenance lasts 30% to 40% of the length of the marriage. If the marriage lasted over 20 years, maintenance is expected to last 35% to 50% of the length of the marriage.
Non-durational alimony in New York will end if either spouse dies or the payee spouse remarries. It can also end if there are changes in the quality of life of either the payor or the payee spouse.
Cohabitation and Alimony in New York Cohabitation is extremely difficult to show, but if the paying spouse can prove it, a court can terminate the alimony obligation.
The potential lengths of spousal support payments have a wide range. For example, a marriage that lasted 18 years has a potential alimony period of 5.4 years to 7.2 years. The judge will use each spouse's circumstances to determine an appropriate duration.
In New York, if a marriage lasts a long time and a spouse is old, ill or unable to support themselves, permanent alimony may be awarded.
The person asking for alimony must show the court that he or she needs financial support, and that the other spouse has the ability to provide financial support.
Typically, the judge will take 20% of the lower-earning spouse's income and subtract that number from 30% of the higher-earning spouse's income. For example, one spouse makes $100,000, and the other makes $20,000. Thirty percent of $100,000 is $30,000, and 20% of $20,000 is $4,000.