Usually, the court will not consider awarding spousal support unless the marriage lasted more than five years. Most courts do not award lifetime spousal support unless the marriage lasted more than 25 years. In cases involving longer marriages, there is a greater chance of income disparity between the spouses.
A court will strive to reach an agreement that allows the non-disabled spouse to divorce while ensuring the disabled spouse is not left to struggle financially. When the divorce is amicable, it is not unusual for the ex-spouse to continue to offer emotional and financial support for the disabled spouse.
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.
Some of the factors courts will consider when determining the duration, manner, amount and type of payments include: Each spouse's incomes, including any income generated by property. The earning ability of each spouse. How old each spouse is, and how healthy they are (emotionally, mentally and physically)
Such accumulated sums would, however, be considered by courts in equitable division states when determining overall property distributions. When calculating alimony, SSDI payments are considered income, while SSI is not.
Ohio isn't a community property state. Instead, Ohio follows what's known as the "equitable distribution" model for dividing assets and debts during a divorce. However, unlike many other states that use this model, Ohio requires judges to divide a couple's marital property equally, unless that would be unfair.
A prenuptial or postnuptial agreement can prevent many alimony disputes. Such marital agreements allow couples to agree beforehand on whether spousal support would be awarded in the event of a divorce. California's Family Code 1612 states that couples can agree to waive spousal support in a prenup or postnup.