How Alimony is Calculated in New York

In New York, spouses can receive either temporary or permanent alimony during and after a divorce, depending on the circumstances of the marriage. To determine if alimony is appropriate in a case, the judge carefully analyzes the needs of the spouse seeking the support and whether the potential payer is financially capable of providing that assistance.

Other factors that go into determining alimony arrangements include the following:

• The length of the marriage
•  The health and age of each spouse
•  One spouse’s need to seek education or training to support him/herself
•  If the spouse seeking alimony is capable of becoming self-supporting
•  If one spouse has a limited earning capacity because of caring for the children
•  How marital property will be distributed between the spouses
•  The contributions of one spouse as a homemaker that enhanced the other spouse’s ability to be the family’s major breadwinner
•  Whether acts of one spouse inhibited the other’s ability to obtain employment or the increase his/her earning capacity
•  Whether domestic violence was present during the marriage

If the judge decides he or she will award alimony to one of the spouses, that arrangement could be temporary or permanent. Temporary alimony orders end as soon as the final judgment for divorce is entered. The recipient will only continue to receive payments after the divorce if the judge issues a permanent order.

A permanent order can end, as well, if certain circumstances arise. This may include either party’s death, a substantial decrease in the financial capability of the payer or the remarriage of the recipient.

If you would like to learn more about how spousal support works in New York, meet with an experienced Long Island divorce lawyer at Bryan L. Salamone & Associates.

Further reading about alimony in New York:

How Alimony is Calculated in New York
How to Negotiate a Fair Alimony Arrangement
The Importance of <i>Pendente Lite</i> Alimony
Does New York Still Have Lifetime Alimony?
 How to Ensure Your Alimony Payments are Tax Deductible
Does New York Still Have Lifetime Alimony?
Wealthy Americans May Have an Incentive to Get Divorced Quickly