What Is Alimony? Everything You Need to Know

What Is Alimony?

Sometimes referred to as spousal support or spousal maintenance, depending on where you live, alimony is financial support one spouse receives for a specific time after a divorce. Although it is more common for wives to be awarded alimony payments (women make less on average), husbands can also receive them.

What Is the Purpose of Alimony?

The purpose of alimony is to provide the lesser-earning spouse with financial support deemed “reasonable and necessary” based on their situation post-divorce. A spouse can request alimony starting at filing and anytime during the divorce proceedings.

The couple must let the judge decide if they cannot agree on a payment amount. Alimony cannot be requested after the divorce case is closed.

What Are the Different Types of Alimony?

There are five types of alimony: temporary alimony, rehabilitative alimony, permanent alimony, reimbursement alimony, and lump-sum alimony. The type you are awarded (or have to pay to your former spouse) depends on your situation. Alimony can also be reduced or increased as the income of either party fluctuates.

Here are the five different types of alimony and what each could mean for you:

1. Temporary alimony. Also referred to as alimony pendente lite (pending the suit), temporary alimony is financial support that can be ordered when spouses have been separated for some time pending their legal divorce. This could be awarded to the spouse who cannot meet their financial needs and cannot find work due to being dependent on the other for so long. The support would begin at filing and only last until the divorce proceedings are over.
2. Rehabilitative alimony. This support can be awarded to the lesser-earning spouse until they can become self-sufficient. A judge can consider this type of support when one spouse is attending school or taking courses to market themselves for work better. The length varies from case to case but is usually fixed (if work is not found, support still ends). The rehabilitative alimony can be revoked if the receiving spouse is not actively trying to find a job.
3. Permanent alimony. Permanent alimony is financial support paid to the ex-spouse who earns less money (or no money) and cannot fully support themselves. It would be delivered until the paying spouse passes away or the receiving spouse gets remarried. A court only considers permanent alimony when a couple has been together for ten years or more, and one partner has been out of the workforce for so long that the chances of being hired are meager. Note that permanent alimony is prohibited in most states.
4. Reimbursement alimony. If one spouse has taken on specific expenses for the other, they could be eligible for reimbursement. Suppose you support your partner financially while in a training program or taking college courses full-time, and they file for divorce not long after completing their studies. In that case, a judge could determine you are entitled to be reimbursed for your sacrifice.
5. Lump-sum alimony. Also referred to as alimony in gross or an alimony buyout, lump-sum alimony will be administered as one single payment. This type of support is awarded in place of a property settlement. After the receiving spouse obtains the funds, the paying spouse will no longer have any financial obligation unless the judge has ordered them to make child support payments.

As you can see, there are many different alimony types (some aren’t applicable in every state). However, alimony is not relevant in every divorce. This is especially true if both parties can support themselves financially and maintain the same standard of living as a married couple.

How Much Are Alimony Payments?

The amount of alimony a judge awards depends on various factors such as how much the paying spouse can afford based on their monthly income and other financial obligations. Both couples should maintain the same standard of living as before.

If the alimony payments would benefit the receiving spouse but strain the payer, a judge would typically determine a way to make the financial burden as equal as possible. While alimony is meant to help the lesser-earning spouse, it should not take away the paying spouse’s ability to be self-supporting.

How Do Courts Calculate Alimony?

Before deciding on a spouse’s alimony payments, a court will consider several factors 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 responsibilities evenly.

Is Alimony Taxable?

Alimony payments are not taxable, so the receiving spouse doesn’t have to report them to the IRS. Previously they were, but since the amendments made to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017, separation agreements dated January 1, 2019, or later are not tax-deductible by the payer.

Is Alimony Different by State?

Yes. Each state has its rules when determining if alimony will be paid, how much the payments will be, and how long they will be paid. It is also important to note that most states prohibit permanent alimony, temporary spousal support being the most common.

Also, permanent and temporary alimony is prohibited if you live in a community property state. In these states, anything you or your partner own individually would be considered marital property upon marriage. Therefore, all assets (including debt) are equally owned, making neither party the higher- or lesser-earning spouse.

Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin are all community property states.

How To Avoid Alimony

In some states, you can avoid paying alimony if you prove your spouse was unfaithful. However, one of the most intelligent ways to avoid alimony is to draft a prenuptial agreement before marriage. With a prenup, you and your spouse can set a minimum amount of financial support to which either of you could be entitled.

You could also state in your contract that no alimony is to be paid out in the event of divorce. With a signed agreement ahead of time, divorce proceedings will be much smoother for both parties.