Spousal maintenance is normally durational that is, it has a set duration, normally long enough for the payee spouse to become self-sufficient. However, there are cases, given age, health and inability to support themselves, that the payee may be awarded nondurational or permanent alimony.
California judges apply a “ten-year rule” when deciding alimony matters during a divorce. Marriages that last less than ten years are considered short-term marriages. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, alimony payments for short-term marriages do not exceed one-half of the duration of the marriage.
In Michigan, the court evaluates various factors such as each party's income, age, health, and the duration of the marriage to determine the necessity, amount, and duration of spousal support.
There is no specific formula in Ohio for calculating temporary support awards. The court must use its discretion, taking into account each spouse's earning capacity and other resources while the divorce is pending. The court should strive to maintain the financial status quo despite title or ownership.
To avoid alimony, make sure that the other party is self-sustaining. If they have the skills and/or education level to make a substantial income, then they won't need alimony.
How is the Amount of Alimony Determined? Supporting Spouse's Ability to Pay. The Best Interest of Children. The Lenght of a Marriage. The Ability to Earn. Standard of Living the Spouses Maintained During the Marriage. Educational or Emotional Support.
There are many considered factors, but the primary factors used to determine spousal support is income and earning capacity. The Court looks at the present income as well as separate property available to the supported party.
The longer the marriage, the more likely the judge is to award spousal support. This is most important if one spouse doesn't have a career or job skills. Whether each party can work. The judge is more likely to award spousal support to a person who can't work or is unlikely to find work.
The longer you were married, the longer support can last For marriages less than ten years, support will last half the length of the marriage. For marriages more than 10 years, there's no assumption about what's reasonable.