Am I Eligible for Alimony in New York? | What to Know

Contact Us Today!
 

When a couple gets married, their financials become intertwined. Divorce can be especially difficult when it comes to separating these finances. In many cases, one spouse is financially dependent on the other. This is where alimony, or spousal maintenance, commonly comes into play. Alimony may be paid to the financially dependent spouse to help ensure that both spouses maintain their standards of living. Read on to learn more about who is eligible for alimony and what the agreements entail.

What are the different types of alimony?

There are different types of alimony that are awarded in New York. The type of alimony you are awarded will heavily depend on the circumstances of your marriage. The most common types of alimony include:

  • Permanent alimony
    • This type of alimony lasts indefinitely or until there is a major change in circumstances. The length of payment will be based on the duration of the marriage. Marriages that last up to 15 years may see alimony for 15 to 30% of the duration. If the length is between 16 and 20 years, the payments may be between 30 to 50% of the duration. If the marriage lasts 20 years or more, alimony may be between 35 to 50% of the duration.
  • Rehabilitative alimony
    • Spouses who hold off their own careers to support their families may be awarded alimony so that they can receive the education or training they missed out on and need in order to get back into their field and secure employment. 
  • Reimbursement alimony
    • If one spouse supports their partner financially while they pursued certain education or training, this temporary alimony can be ordered to reimburse them.

How does a court determine alimony?

When it comes to determining whether someone is eligible for alimony, what type of alimony, and the amount and duration of alimony, the court will examine the following factors:

  • the length of the marriage
  • each spouse’s age, physical and mental health
  • the standard of living during the marriage
  • each spouse’s earning capacities, educational levels, vocational skills, and employability
  • both spouse’s parental responsibilities
  • the time and expenses necessary for the supported spouse to acquire education or training to find employment, the availability of the training and employment, and the opportunity for future assets and income
  • the history of each spouse’s financial and non-financial contributions to the marriage
  • the equitable distribution of marital property during the divorce
  • any other factors the court deems relevant

If you have any questions or concerns about alimony payments in New York, our firm is here to help. Contact us today to discuss your options with a skilled divorce attorney.

CONTACT OUR FIRM

If you need strong legal representation regarding matters of divorce, family law, and estate law, contact the Law Offices of Susan A. Kassel, P.C. to schedule a consultation today.

Why choose our firm?

We have an excellent AVVO rating from our many happy clients

We will tirelessly pursue a favorable resolution to your case

We offer aggressive and effective representation

We treat our clients with the compassion, patience, and respect that they deserve

We have more than 20 years of dedicated legal experience

We have the legal knowledge necessary to help you obtain the outcome you desire

We tailor our practice to the representation of your divorce case

What Our Clients Are Saying

I hired Susan to represent me in a divorce matter where I was fighting for custody and to limit my wife's equitable share of our assets. I won custody of our son, kept the marital residence, kept my professional practice, kept my building and paid less than half to my wife. This was after a long-term marriage. She could persuade the court that equitable is not equal and sometimes the man does deserve to win!

‐ Dave

I first must say that I had been represented by two prior attorneys both of whom had simply taken my money and left me nothing to show for it in my custody case. They kept telling me what they were doing for me but I found out they were lying. Susan on the other hand had gotten me temporary custody and support for my children and myself within two months of hiring her. I cannot say enough about her.

‐ Craig

After talking to a few other attorneys, I hired Susan to represent me in my divorce and custody dispute. I was reluctant to go with her because she was the cheapest out of all the other attorneys I met with, but I'm so glad I did. I am 100% positive no one else would have done such a great job with my case as Susan and her staff. Her work is quality, her staff is reliable and her character is honorable. There...

‐ Linda

I had a very difficult case where I had already burned through two attorneys who were unable to get me custody of my children and complete my divorce. Susan was able to rapidly work out an agreement and not let it just malinger on like my previous experiences. She was also considerate of my financial situation unlike all of the other lawyers I had spoken to. I highly recommend her if you want complete and caring service with an in-depth knowledge of...

‐ Joanne

SERVING ALL OF SUFFOLK COUNTY

The Law Offices of Susan A. Kassel, P.C. proudly serves clients throughout Suffolk County, New York in their divorce, family law, and estate planning matters. If you require the services of an experienced Suffolk County attorney, schedule a consultation with The Law Offices of Susan A. Kassel, P.C. today.

Recent Blogs

VIEW MORE

Contact Us Today!