For How Long will the Court Order Alimony?
How long will the court order alimony? The length of alimony is dictated by Massachusetts law and depends on the type of alimony the Court orders.
General term alimony will end upon the remarriage of the person receiving alimony, or upon the death of either party.
- If the length of the marriage is 20 years or less, general term alimony ends according to the following guidelines:
- If the length of the marriage is 5 years or less, alimony continues for no longer than ½ of the number of months of the marriage.
- If the length of the marriage is 5 – 10 years, alimony continues for no longer than 60% of the number of months of the marriage.
- If the length of the marriage is 10-15 years, alimony continues for no longer than 70% of the number of months of the marriage.
- If the length of the marriage is 15-20 years, alimony continues for no longer than 80% of the number of months of the marriage.
- If the length of the marriage is over 20 years, alimony may continue for an indefinite length of time. Such alimony, however, shall be suspended, reduced or terminated once the spouse receiving alimony has been living with someone else for at least three months; or has remarried to another; or when the party paying alimony reaches full retirement age; or when either party dies.
Alimony is always modifiable; which means that you can request a change in the amount of alimony if there is a significant change in circumstances.
If you are considering filing for divorce, or requesting an order of alimony, or change in the amount of alimony, please contact Johnson, Sclafani & Moriarty for a free consultation to discuss your options.
