Spousal Support

Spousal support, also referred to as alimony, is payment made by one party to another after a divorce. This can be ordered by the court or mutually agreed upon by both parties.  In Massachusetts, spousal support is usually not required in addition to child support.  If the child lives with one parent, and the other parent has insufficient income, the court may then require spousal support to be paid along with child support.  Spousal support for an extended period of time is only granted in "long-term marriages." These marriages are defined in Massachusetts as those that lasted at least 20 years. 

In short-term marriages, spousal support/alimony/maintenance is less likely to be awarded. Also, if both parties have an almost equal income, the court can decide not to grant these benefits. If the court decides to grant spousal support in these shorter marriages, there may be a time limit placed on them. 

The main factors involved when determining if and how much spousal support will be granted are:

• the length of the marriage;
• the conduct of each party involved during the marriage;
• the age and health of each party;
• the occupation and the amount and source of income for each party;
• the employability of each party;
• the estate, liabilities and needs of each party; and
• the opportunity for each party to acquire capital assets and income in the future.

If you are currently going through a divorce and have questions regarding spousal support, please contact Rauseolaw. We are here to guide you through this difficult process and advise you in the many difficulties that accompany it. Contact a Middlesex County attorney now.