Alimony, sometimes called spousal support or maintenance, is money one former spouse is ordered to pay the other after a divorce. Its general purpose is to limit unfair economic effects of the marriage ending, particularly where one spouse earns significantly less or gave up income and career opportunities during the marriage. Courts generally look at factors such as how long the couple was married, each spouse's income and ability to earn, age and health, and the standard of living established during the marriage, though the exact rules and terminology vary by state.
Why alimony exists
Alimony is not automatic and is not designed to punish either spouse. Its purpose is generally understood as addressing a gap in earning capacity or financial need created or exposed by the marriage ending, particularly when one spouse spent years out of the workforce or supporting the other's career or education.
Factors courts commonly weigh
Common factors include the length of the marriage, each spouse's income, assets, and earning capacity, age and physical or emotional health, the standard of living during the marriage, and how much time one spouse would reasonably need to become self-supporting, for example through further education or training. Courts generally have considerable discretion in weighing these factors, which is different from child support, which more often follows a set formula.
How alimony can be structured
Alimony can be awarded as a lump sum, as ongoing periodic payments, or as payments limited to a set number of years, sometimes tied to how long the marriage lasted. Whether alimony is awarded at all, how much, and for how long, depends heavily on the specific facts of a case and the law of the relevant state.
Why this varies so much by situation
Because alimony rules and the weight given to any one factor differ from state to state and case to case, a general description like this one cannot predict whether alimony would be awarded in a specific situation or how much. A licensed family law attorney can evaluate a specific set of facts against the law of the relevant jurisdiction.