When a couple in Massachusetts makes the decision to get divorced, there are a number of different matters that must be resolved. In some cases, one of the spouses may want to seek alimony from the other spouse. This is frequently a contested matter as the spouse required to pay alimony usually believes they shouldn’t have to. However, if the court orders that one spouse must pay the other spouse alimony, they are required to do so by law. One type of alimony that is frequently ordered by the court is known as General Term Alimony. This structure determines how long a party will have to pay support based upon the length of the marriage. The structure for general term alimony is as follows:
- Marriages that lasted less than 5 years can only require alimony for no more than 50% of the length of the marriage
- Marriages that lasted between 5 and 9 years 11 months can only require alimony payments for up to 60% of the length of the marriage
- Marriages that lasted less than 15 years can only require alimony for up to 70% of the duration of the marriage
- Marriages that lasted less than 20 years can only require alimony for up to 80% of the length of the marriage
- Marriages that lasted 20 years or more will have alimony obligations determined at the judge’s discretion
If you have questions about alimony, contact our firm today.
If you require compassionate and knowledgeable legal guidance for a matter of divorce, family or estate law, please contact the experienced attorneys at the Law Offices of Cynthia L. Hanley today.
