Will I Have to Pay Him Alimony?

Alimony is one of the aspects of divorce that concerns a lot of our workshop attendees. Paying money to someone you no longer love feels like being kicked when you are down. And if you’re not sure how you are going to make ends meet, the idea of paying someone is definitely going to cause stress.

Figuring out who pays alimony to whom depends on many factors. Some states are changing the laws surrounding alimony because society has changed. Historically, alimony, or spousal support, was paid by men to women because women had no other means of supporting themselves. These days, it’s far less common for a woman to have never worked outside the home.

How Alimony is Awarded

Alimony is still part of the divorce process in North Carolina, where it might be paid as one lump sum or an ongoing basis.

Such payments might not be awarded to either party. For example, the payments are less likely if both spouses worked and they have no children. Or, both parties can agree that neither needs support. In case the parties don’t agree on that issue, the court will decide.

In some cases, alimony is paid only during the divorce process. This is called post-separation support. Once the divorce is finalized, that support may stop, or the court may award ongoing payments. Due to some divorce reforms, spousal support is now usually given only if one spouse is found to be dependent on the other. There are several factors including (but not limited to):

• Each spouse’s earnings and earning potential
• Other income and assets along with debt
• How long the marriage lasted
• Contributions of each partner toward the other’s training, education, etc.
• Child custody
• The couple’s standard of living

An Affair
If one of the partners had an affair, he or she is less likely to receive payments, even if otherwise eligible. The vice versa is also true: The partner who may not have had to pay alimony may be required to do so if he or she had an affair.

You can learn more about alimony or try this alimony calculator. (Note: not a guarantee.)