Alimony Vs Spousal Support
There is no difference between the terms alimony and spousal support. In truth, they both mean the same thing. However, alimony is an older and outdated term that was often associated with men supporting women since, in the past, women would often leave their jobs to take care of their children.
In comparison, the term spousal support has nothing to do with gender. Instead, it refers to a former spouse with the resources and income necessary to support the other spouse following a divorce. As a result, the term spousal support focuses on income and earning potential instead of gender roles.
How Long Does Alimony Last?
Since the implementation of the Alimony Reform Act, the duration of alimony has been limited. Now, alimony duration technically corresponds to the length of time the couple was married.
In general, if a couple had been married for:
Five years or less: The alimony cannot exceed 50% of the marriage length
Ten years or less: The alimony cannot exceed 60% of the marriage length
Fifteen years or less: The alimony cannot exceed 70% of the marriage length
Twenty years or less: The alimony cannot exceed 80% of the marriage length
Twenty years or more: The alimony will be for an indefinite duration
How is Alimony Calculated?
According to Massachusetts regulations, alimony should not exceed the recipient spouse’s needs or be higher than 30-35% of the difference in income between the partners.
However, to determine the appropriate amount of alimony that a spouse can receive, the court will often look at the following factors:
How long was the couple married?
How old is each spouse?
What is the health of each spouse?
How much does each spouse make?
Is each spouse employed?
What is the employability of each spouse?
What are the spouse’s non-economic and economic contributions to their marriage?
What was the couple’s lifestyle like when they were married?
Did either spouse lose economic opportunities because of their marriage?
Additionally, the family law judge may also consider other factors that they find relevant, which can help them figure out how much a spouse needs to pay in spousal support cases.
Law Office of Polly Tatum
19 Cedar St Worcester, MA 01609
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