In Utah, the law is the court shall consider all relevant facts and equitable principles and may, in its discretion, base alimony on the standard of living that existed at the time of trial. In marriages of short duration, when no children have been conceived or born during the marriage, the court may consider the standard of living that existed at the time of the marriage. Utah Code Section 30-3-5(8)(g) (h) In determining alimony when a marriage of short duration dissolves, and no children have been conceived or born during the marriage, the court may consider restoring each party to the condition which existed at the time of the marriage. Utah Code Section 30-3-5(8)(h) Note that Section 30-3-5(8)(a) provide to the court *may *restore each party to the condition that existed "at the time of the marriage," which means before the marriage or the date of the marriage. Where no children have been born do you and your wife of 14 months, it would be extremely difficult for her to argue that she has become accustomed to different kind of lifestyle that she had before marriage. Even if the lifestyle that you and your wife have led for the past 14 months is better than the life she knew before she married you, she, in my opinion, cannot reasonably ask the court to force you to pay alimony to support a lifestyle that was so short. Obviously, the longer you stay married, the stronger claim for alimony becomes. And here's an interesting fact: (j) Alimony may not be ordered for a duration longer than the number of years that the marriage existed unless, at any time prior to termination of alimony, the court finds extenuating circumstances that justify the payment of alimony for a longer period of time.
Answered on Sep 19th, 2013 at 12:22 PM