Alimony
In one sentence
Court-ordered payments from one spouse to another after divorce or separation.
Plain English
Alimony is money that a court requires one spouse to pay to the other after they divorce or legally separate. It's designed to help the lower-earning spouse maintain a similar standard of living they had during the marriage. The amount and duration depend on factors like how long the marriage lasted, each person's income and earning ability, and their age and health. Alimony is different from child support, which is specifically for children's needs.
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Example
After a 20-year marriage, a judge orders the higher-earning spouse to pay $2,000 per month to their ex-spouse for five years while the ex-spouse completes job training and re-enters the workforce.
Used in a sentence
“The court determined that alimony was appropriate given the significant income difference between the two spouses.”
How Alimony differs by state
Alimony can apply differently depending on the state. Click a state to see local specifics.
Alabama
Alabama courts award alimony based on need and ability to pay, with no fixed duration formula.
Alaska
Alaska favors short-term rehabilitative alimony over permanent support, focusing on self-sufficiency.
Arizona
Arizona uses a formula-based approach tied to income and marriage length for spousal maintenance calculations.
Arkansas
Arkansas courts award alimony based on need and ability to pay, with no statutory formula or duration limits.
California
California applies a formula-based guideline using 40% of the higher earner's income minus 50% of the lower earner's income.
Colorado
Colorado calls alimony "maintenance" and bases awards on statutory income caps and duration guidelines tied to marriage length.
Connecticut
Connecticut awards alimony based on statutory factors and typically terminates upon the payor's retirement age or the recipient's remarriage.
Delaware
Delaware awards alimony based on statutory factors without rigid formulas, and termination occurs upon remarriage or cohabitation of the recipient.
Florida
Florida uses statutory guidelines to calculate alimony based on combined parental income and marriage length, with four recognized types of support.
Georgia
Georgia awards alimony based on statutory factors without formulas, and the court may award temporary, permanent, or rehabilitative support.
Hawaii
Hawaii courts award alimony based on ten statutory factors and may order either spouse to pay.
Idaho
Idaho courts award alimony only when one spouse lacks sufficient property or income for reasonable needs.
Illinois
Illinois uses a statutory formula for spousal support based on income percentages and marriage length caps.
Indiana
Indiana courts award alimony (called "maintenance") based on need and ability to pay, with no strict formula.
Iowa
Iowa courts award alimony based on statutory factors with no fixed formula or income limit.
Kansas
Kansas calls spousal support "maintenance" and bases awards on income, length of marriage, and statutory factors without a specific durational cap.
Kentucky
Kentucky awards "maintenance" based on need and ability to pay, with duration tied to marriage length and generally capped at half the marriage duration.
Louisiana
Louisiana uses "spousal support" with strict need-based standards; the obligor must have surplus income after meeting their own needs and child support obligations.
Maine
Maine awards "alimony" based on need and ability to pay, with duration typically limited to half the marriage length for marriages under twenty years.
Maryland
Maryland awards "alimony" based on need and ability to pay, with duration guidelines tied to marriage length but subject to judicial discretion.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts courts can award alimony based on a statutory formula tied to income and marriage length, with specific durational limits.
Michigan
Michigan courts award alimony (called "spousal support") based on statutory factors with no fixed formula, and can modify or terminate it based on changed circumstances.
Minnesota
Minnesota applies a statutory formula for alimony based on income and marriage duration, with specific caps and durational guidelines.
Mississippi
Mississippi courts award alimony based on statutory factors with no fixed formula, emphasizing the need and ability to pay.
Missouri
Missouri courts award alimony (called "spousal support") based on statutory factors without a fixed formula, considering need and ability to pay.
Montana
Montana calls alimony "maintenance" and bases it on need, ability to pay, and a standard formula for duration.
Nebraska
Nebraska awards alimony based on need and ability to pay, with no fixed formula but consideration of statutory factors.
Nevada
Nevada has no alimony formula and awards it only when one spouse cannot meet basic needs despite reasonable efforts.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire calls alimony "spousal support" and bases awards on need, ability to pay, and a statutory factor list.
New Jersey
New Jersey uses a statutory formula for alimony based on income, with duration tied to marriage length and caps on high earners.
New Mexico
New Mexico courts may award alimony based on need and ability to pay, with no set duration limits.
New York
New York uses statutory formulas for temporary and post-divorce maintenance, with duration tied to marriage length.
North Carolina
North Carolina awards alimony based on need and ability to pay, with no statutory formula or automatic duration limits.
North Dakota
North Dakota courts award maintenance based on need and ability to pay, with duration generally limited by marriage length.
Ohio
Ohio courts award spousal support based on need and ability to pay, with no statutory formula or automatic duration limits.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma courts award alimony based on need and ability to pay, with no set formula or durational limits.
Oregon
Oregon uses a formula-based approach to spousal support, with duration tied to marriage length and income differences.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania calls it 'alimony' and bases awards on need, ability to pay, and a detailed statutory factor list.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island awards alimony based on need and ability to pay, with duration generally tied to marriage length.
South Carolina
South Carolina awards alimony based on need and ability to pay, with no statutory formula or durational limits.
South Dakota
South Dakota allows alimony but emphasizes short-term support; courts rarely award indefinite payments.
Tennessee
Tennessee awards alimony based on need and ability to pay, with no specific formula or durational limits.
Texas
Texas restricts alimony to specific circumstances and limits duration; most divorces involve no spousal support.
Utah
Utah awards alimony based on need and ability to pay, with no statutory formula or presumed duration.
Vermont
Vermont awards alimony based on need and ability to pay; courts consider the length of marriage and earning capacity.
Virginia
Virginia courts award alimony based on a 12-factor test with no presumption favoring either spouse.
Washington
Washington courts award alimony (called "maintenance") using income-based guidelines with a cap on duration.
West Virginia
West Virginia courts award alimony based on need and ability to pay, with no fixed formula or duration limit.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin courts award alimony using statutory factors with presumptions against permanent awards in shorter marriages.
Wyoming
Wyoming courts award alimony at their discretion with no statutory guidelines, formula, or presumed duration limits.
District of Columbia
DC courts award alimony based on statutory factors and may modify or terminate it upon substantial change in circumstances.
Related terms
Spousal Support
Court-ordered payments from one spouse to another, typically during or after divorce proceedings.
Child Support
Court-ordered payments from one parent to the other for a child's living expenses.
Divorce
The legal dissolution of a marriage, ending the spouses' rights and responsibilities to each other.
No-Fault Divorce
A divorce granted without requiring either spouse to prove wrongdoing by the other.
Common Law Marriage
A marriage created by mutual agreement and cohabitation, without a formal ceremony or license.
Community Property
Property acquired during marriage that is owned equally by both spouses, regardless of who earned it.
Child Custody
A court's decision about which parent has the right to care for and make decisions for a child.
This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney.