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What is Alimony?

In many divorce cases, alimony or support payments are sought from the spouse who is the primary wage earner.  The majority of cases usually involve the wife seeking alimony payments from the husband because the husband has traditionally been the bread-winner while the wife has stayed home to raise the children and care for the home.  The theory behind alimony is that the spouse that stays at home has forgone career opportunities in favor of the working spouse and so the working spouse is obligated to continue that support until the stay-at-home spouse has been given the opportunity to reestablish his or her ability to earn their own income.
The amount of alimony awarded is determined by the divorce court on a case by case basis.  The court will consider the financial status of each party and order an alimony award sufficient enough to maintain the same lifestyle that he or she is accustomed to.  Each state maintains their own laws regarding alimony and courts will follow those laws and decisions of previous divorce cases when considering a spouse’s request for alimony.
Alimony payments may be ordered for a few years or may be ordered for several years depending on the circumstances surrounding the divorce.  The courts will consider several factors including who was at fault for causing the divorce, each spouse's age and health, and each spouse's educational level and employment experience, to name a few.
Alimony payments may be ordered temporarily during the time in between when the divorce has been filed and the time the divorce becomes final.