How long do I have to pay spousal support for?

Question

My wife filed for spousal support. We have one child together and she has two other kids which she gets no support from their father.

Gregory Crain · Answer

As long as the court order says.

Brandon Gardner · Answer

The order/judgment awarding spousal support will tell you how long you have to pay and in what denomination.  It will also tell you whether it can be modified.

Leonard Schwartz · Answer

Spousal support has nothing to do with child support in this context. Many factors are to be considered in New Jersey such as length of marriage. More information is needed. An attorney should be consulted.

Leonard A. Kaanta · Answer

If she is granted spousal support, the time period will in the divorce judgment based on her circumstances.

James Lentz · Answer

The court is required to evaluate the need for spousal support against a number of factors.  Those factors help the court decide on the amount of spousal support as well as the duration.  It can be ordered for the rest of your life or hers.  See a family lawyer now.  You need assistance.

Robert Merlin · Answer

Spousal support is a function of a number of criteria. Look at Florida Statutes Section 61.08. Your wife must first have a financial need and you must have the ability to pay. 

The length of your marriage is critical to the number of years of support that a judge can award.

Cathy Cook · Answer

Do you mean spousal support or child support?  As you talk about children, it sounds like you mean child support.  That must be paid until the child emancipates, which is when the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever is later.   If you mean spousal support, that depends on a number of statutory factors, which can be found in the spousal support report on my website.

Barbara A. Fontaine · Answer

Spousal support is for the spouse, child support is for YOUR children. I do not know what your state laws are or what you agreed to.

Janis Blough · Answer

The duration of spousal support depends on a number of factors, only one of which you mention: Your mutual child.

The length of your marriage, the disparity in your incomes, your relative ability to earn income (i.e., you education and experience, etc.), other assets each party receives, the amount of child support and child care you pay for your child and whether either party was at fault for the breakdown of the marriage are among the factors taken into consideration. Good Luck!

Glenn Tanner · Answer

As long as the order states. Usually that's until the child is 18 or graduates from high school, but in some circumstances it can be longer. You don't have to support the other children if you get divorced.

Robert De Groot · Answer

You will have to pay alimony for as long as you agree or for as long as the judge orders.

Maryanne Spryszak-Hanna · Answer

It depends. You can negotiate for Alimony in Gross, which is really a property settlement. It is for a set sum of money (non modifiable) for a set period of time. She cannot ask for more. You cannot ask for less, regardless of the circumstances.  

Regular spousal support is modifiable depending upon the terms and the circumstances. It can be a for a set amount of money for a set amount of years, but she can sue for more, or that it be extended. You can ask of less and you can request the length of time that you pay it be shortened.

Harry Roth · Answer

Not enough information to answer the question. The amount and duration of spousal support turns on a number of factors. You have hit on a couple, but missed several of the more important.

First, who makes how much? For you to pay her support you must earn more, relative to your needs, than does she relative to hers. Second for how long were you married.? The longer you were married, in general, the longer the order for support.  Harry Roth

Mark Brown · Answer

Under Washington state law, there is no formula for amount or duration.  Pursuant to statute [RCW 26.09.090], the court considers the following  factors:              i.          The financial resources of the party seeking maintenance and that party's ability to meet his or her needs independently;              ii.          The time necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party seeking maintenance to find employment appropriate to his or her skill, interest, style of life, and other attendant circumstances;              iii.         The standard of living established during the marriage;              iv.         The length of marriage;              v.         the age, physical and emotional condition, and the financial obligations of the spouse seeking maintenance; and  vi.         The ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is sought to meet his or her needs     and financial obligations while meeting those of the spouse seeking maintenance.

Dean Esposito · Answer

There are two types of spousal support. Interim spousal support can last up to 6 months after the date of divorce. Permanent spousal support lasts until death, remarriage or a judge determines she is living with another in the same state as married couples.

Barbara Peyton · Answer

This question is a lot more complex than it may at first appear.  It depends on a lot of factors such as the length of the marriage, the ability of each party to have gainful employment, the standard of living during marriage, and several other factors.  I strongly suggest you have an in person consultation with an attorney in your county to get a more specific answer. Good luck.

Frances Headley · Answer

The amount of time for paying spousal support depends upon the length of the marriage.  In short term marriages, usually defined as 5 years or less, support usually lasts only during the pendancy of the dissolution action.  

When the duration is longer the rule of thumb is one half of the length of the marriage until you reach long term relationships, ie 20 years or more. In such relationships there is no ending date other than death or remarriage.

Bernal Ojeda · Answer

Depends on length of marriage. Family code 4320.

Timothy Byrne · Answer

For as long as the support order states.

Gary Russell · Answer

There is no set time or amount. There is also no automatic right to spousal support. It is dependent upon each case. Many factors are considered in determining whether or not to eve grant support, let alone the amount.  Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Timothy Lopez · Answer

It depends on the length of the marriage and the relative incomes of you and the ex, along with about 10th other factors depending on the length and income factors.!

Steven D. Dunnings · Answer

As long as the Judge says.

Erin Farley · Answer

The very general rule is 1/2 the length of the marriage, but the actual time will depend on your unique set of factual circumstances.

John Rivers · Answer

The length of time and the amount of alimony that you must pay to your ex-wife is determined by the terms and conditions stated in your divorce decree.

James Weiner · Answer

Child support usually lasts until the children reach the age of 18.. slightly longer if they state in school Spousal support or alimony is different. Its equitable and not always granted so it totally depends upon how long you were married, your disparity in incomes, etc.  Many times it is only 5 or 10 years.

George Seide · Answer

Spousal support for a marriage under ten years in length may generally "not" be for longer than half the length of the marriage.  For marriages of ten years or longer, it may be up to the life of the recipient, or remarriage. That would depend on a very long marriage, never had the spouse worked and has no job skills.  Lots of variables, but think half the length of the marriage as a rule of thumb. This advice does not establish an attorney client relationship, which may only be established through a written agreement.

Tres Porter · Answer

The general  rule was 1/2 the length of the marriage unless the marriage was a long term marriage which was anything over 10 years.

Daniel B. Rubanowitz · Answer

In a Divorce (i.e., Dissolution of Marriage) Case, there are many factors that are considered by the Court in calculating the duration, amount and payment obligation of spousal support.  In California, "half the length of marriage" is the general rule with regard to the duration obligation of paying spousal support.  Every case is different and you should consult with a Family Law Attorney.  Good luck.

Dennis P. Mikko · Answer

The amount and duration of spousal support due a former spouse would be dictated by court order for temporary spousal support or the Judgment of Divorce for spousal support due after the divorce is over.

John Kirchner · Answer

There is no simple rule.  The duration of spousal support following dissolution of the marriage is a matter for the judge's discretion if you and your wife cannot agree on a reasonable period of time needed for her to become self-sufficient.  

There are many different factors that must be considered in making that decision, so you should consult an attorney who can assist you in identifying the most significant facts that would probably influence what a judge would do.

Jane Ginsburg · Answer

It depends on a number of factors including how much you each make and how long you were married.

Loren Zahn · Answer

Your question is a mix of two different issues. Spousal support is related to the right of one spouse to receive support from the other for his/her own benefit. Child support is for the children. It is not possible to determine in the abstract how long spousal support is to be paid for, but child support remains an obligation for the duration of the child's minority.

Gregory Graf · Answer

Unless you reach an agreement with your spouse, maintenance in Colorado is discretionary with the Court. The factors include the length of the marriage, how much money you make, how much money your spouse makes and the lifestyle enjoyed during the marriage. Child support is a completely different matter. It is based on a formula that considers gross income and the number of overnights with each parent plus health insurance and daycare costs.

Steven Alpers · Answer

That depends on the length of your marriage. If it is over 10 years support can last for ever. Otherwise, spousal support is to allow her to set up a new living arrangement. As a rule of thumb that may be about 1/3rd the length of the marriage, but it can be longer or shorter depending on the circumstances.

John Brennan · Answer

You will pay support for your child, and not her children (unless you adopted them).

Monica H. Donaldson Stewart · Answer

Spousal support would have nothing to do with whether she receives child support for her other children. It's based on whether she has the ability to meet her reasonable needs, the length of the marriage, and many other factors that are set forth in the statute (ARS 25-319). I recommend you speak with an attorney to discuss this matter in greater detail so you can have a better idea of what to expect.

Michael Yeksavich · Answer

You have to pay in accordance with what the Court orders.

Dennis Leffert · Answer

For as long as you agree to or the Court orders you to.

Austin Hirschhorn · Answer

The court would have to determine that your wife needs spousal support before the court would order you to pay it and the court order would indicate the length of time that the spousal support would have to be paid.  Child support is a different issue.  Child support is usually based upon the earnings of each of the parents of the child or children and us payable until the child reaches the age of 18 years and possibly beyond that age if the child has not graduated from high school and is still attending high school.  You would not be responsible for support of children that you did not father unless you have adopted those children.  If your wife has the ability to work if she gets the training she needs for employment the court might order rehabilitative spousal support which would cease when she receives the necessary training to become employed.  Each case is based on the facts before the court in that case.  There is no standard rule in these cases.

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How long do I have to pay spousal support for?

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