Married couples share their resources, income, property and their lives. They also help support each other.
Of course, spouses may take on different roles, with one earning the majority of the money and the other spending more time at home raising the children and taking care of the home. This may work well during the marriage, but if the couple divorces, it puts the non-working spouse in a very difficult position.
In these types of situations, the spouse who earns most of the income may need to pay the other spouse alimony. These are monthly payments that a spouse pays to the other, either permanently or for a certain period.
Factors used to determine amount and duration of alimony
The question many people have when they are going through a divorce like this is how much will they have to pay and for how long. The amount and duration of an alimony award depends on a number of factors that Connecticut judges will analyze. Judges will look at:
- The length of the marriage
- Why the marriage is ending in divorce
- The age and health of the parties; each spouse’s earning capacity
- Their work history and skills
- Each spouse’s education and ability to earn an income
- The assets and property each spouse receives in the divorce
- Which parent received custody of the children and other factors.
Each divorce in Connecticut is unique, based on the unique nature of each marriage. Not every divorce will result in one spouse paying alimony to the other, but many do.
The unique circumstances of each spouse during the marriage will dictate the amount and duration of the alimony payments. These are fact-specific determinations and consulting with an experienced attorney could be beneficial.