Divorce can be very stressful, especially when money matters come up. Subject to the terms of the divorce, the court may order one party to pay spousal support to the other. Also known as alimony, spousal support is intended to help the receiving spouse maintain a living standard similar to what they had prior to the divorce.
If you are ordered to pay spousal support in Ohio, you are probably curious to know how long you will make these payments.
But first, how is spousal support determined?
Spousal support can be awarded to either party during the divorce. In doing so, the court will take the following factors into account:
- Each party’s income and/or earning ability
- Each party’s age and physical ability
- Training and education needs necessary to ensure that the receiving party can find work
- The length of the marriage
- The standard of living during the marriage
- The amount of assets and liabilities each party is leaving the marriage with
Some factors may carry more weight than others in the judge’s mind.
The duration
There are two types of spousal support:
Temporary spousal support is meant to serve a specific purpose: provide financial support to the receiving spouse during the divorce process. This order is mostly vacated when the divorce is completed
Permanent spousal support is long-term, but not necessarily permanent. It’s up to the judge to decide when it will end. Regardless, the death of either party will end the arrangement. Other substantial changes in circumstances could also give grounds for a modification.
Spousal support can be a contentious subject during divorce. Find out how proper legal counsel can help you navigate this subject during and after divorce.