Spousal support or what is often known as alimony is where the Court orders one spouse to pay the other spouse ongoing amounts for support. The main concern is the economic circumstances of both parties after the marriage ends. There generally has to be a showing of need by one spouse and the ability of the other spouse to pay. Other factors include the length of the marriage, the financial resources of the party asking for maintenance, the time needed to get training or education to find suitable employment, the standard of living during the marriage, and the age, physical and emotional condition, and financial obligations of the spouse seeking maintenance, and the ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is being sought to meet their own needs while meeting the needs of the other spouse.
