If you divorce your spouse, the court may order you to make financial payments over the course of months, years or even decades, depending on how long you were married. Conversely, the court may order your spouse to make payments to you instead.
In Ohio, this is known as spousal support or alimony. This financial support is typically determined by the court after evaluating which of the two spouses has a higher income, though the court also considers other factors such as their financial needs and their ability to pay. However, the exact amount a spouse has to pay differs depending on the case.
What affects alimony?
Ohio does not use formulas to calculate alimony. Instead, courts use discretion and make their own judgments based on various factors in a marriage. Major considerations that affect the amount of alimony include:
- Duration of the marriage: Alimony typically lasts longer and costs more money the longer a marriage is.
- Age and health: Courts consider physical disabilities, mental conditions, age and other factors that affect one’s ability to work.
- Child support: For parents, the paying spouse’s income is reduced, typically resulting in lower alimony because the court prioritizes a child’s welfare.
- Disparity of income: The greater the income gap, the more likely it is for alimony to balance the disparity.
Courts use alimony to help spouses achieve economic fairness even after divorcing, bridging the gap between the lower-earning spouse and the higher-earning spouse. This allows people to simultaneously pursue self-sufficiency and meet standards of living similar to what they had when they were married.
What comes after alimony?
Alimony does not last forever. It can end after a date specified by the court, if the recipient spouse remarries, or if one of the two spouses passes away. Many people, both recipients and payers, prioritize financial stability after alimony ends. Planning for self-sufficiency can be difficult to accomplish without legal advice from an attorney familiar with family law.