What factors influence alimony?

Before deciding on a spouse’s alimony payments, several factors are used to determine the amount that would be most appropriate for both parties.

• The length of the marriage
• Both spouses’ financial needs
• A spouse’s ability to pay
• Parenting responsibilities

Length of Marriage

If a couple was married for ten years or more, the payments would often be higher since it will be difficult for the dependent spouse to be hired for work after being off the market for so long.

Spouses’ Financial Needs

Spousal support also depends on the needs of both parties. Suppose the receiving spouse has several financial burdens, and the paying spouse cannot comfortably cover the recipient’s needs while maintaining their standard of living. In that case, the figure can be adjusted to account for that.

Spouses’ Ability To Pay

The requester will not be awarded any support if their ex-spouse has no money (or makes less than them) since they wouldn’t be considered the higher-earning party. Their ability to pay could also be impacted by high debt or a lack of assets.

Parenting Responsibilities

If there is a custodial parent, they will typically be the dependent spouse and need more financial assistance (ex: higher alimony, child support) as a result. This is because being the main caretaker can hinder someone’s ability to be self-supporting. However, spouses often have split custody and divide