What is spousal support?
Michigan no longer uses the term "alimony." An allowance of money or property that is paid to a spouse which is not intended to be a division of marital property is now spousal support. It is generally paid for a spouse's health, education, maintenance and welfare.
Am I eligble for spousal support?
Many factors are considered by the court as relevant in determining whether spousal support should be awarded. They include: the past relations and conduct of the parties, the length of the marriage, the ability of the parties to work, the source and amount of property awarded to the parties, the age of the parties, the ability of the parties to pay spousal support, the present situation of the parties, the needs of the parties, the health of the parties, the prior standard living of the parties, whether either party is responsible for the support of others and general principals of equity.
How much spousal support will I receive?
There is no precise formula for determining the amount that will be awarded. There are now published in Michigan two separate guidelines which take some of the above factors into consideration such as the age of the parties, the educational level of the parties, the length of the marriage, the number of children and who is their custodial parent, and the earnings of both parties.
How long will spousal support last?
Just as the award of spousal support is in the discretion of the court, so is its length of time. The court may award spousal support for a specified length of time and provide that it may be reviewed at the end of that period or it may set a finite length of time, it may set spousal support in an absolute amount or for an absolute period of time. Or, in certain cases, the court may prefer that it continue indefinitely or be terminated on the death or remarriage of the payee; again, the length of time is in the discretion of the court.
