Countries including Australia, Canada, Germany, Mexico, and the U.K. regularly work with U.S. courts to enforce alimony orders across international borders. However, enforcing an international alimony order may take more time than enforcing a domestic one.
The citizen spouse must sign a contract (I-864) with the Federal government promising to support the non-citizen spouse financially. In most cases, even if the couple divorces, the citizen spouse must continue to support the non-citizen spouse.
The best way to avoid paying alimony in the event of a divorce is to sign a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement. These agreements, once seen as unromantic, now serve as a strategic way to protect individual assets in case of separation or the need to dissolve the marriage.
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.
In most cases, if a spouse can work and their former spouse cannot afford to provide spousal support, the court can deny alimony. It is pertinent to note that New York is a no-fault divorce state, meaning both parties could cite fault grounds, however, it will not affect whether a spouse is granted spousal maintenance.
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.
Someone doesn't have to be a US citizen. The qualifications to draw a spouse benefit in that scenario is age at least 62, have a spouse who draws SS and have been in the US LEGALLY for at least five years.
Typically, this obligation continues until your spouse becomes a U.S. citizen, accrues 40 qualifying work quarters in the U.S. (roughly 10 years), permanently departs the country, or passes away.