Generally, spousal support is an issue where there has been a long-term marriage or where there is a substantial disparity in income between the spouses.
Caselaw establishes that courts will apply 11 factors in determining whether spousal support should be awarded and the amount of such an award. They are: (1) the parties’ past relations and conduct, (2) the length of the marriage, (3) the parties’ ability to work, (4) the source and amount of property awarded to the parties, (5) the parties’ ages, (6) the ability to pay spousal support, (7) the parties’ present situation, (8) the parties’ needs, (9) the parties’ health, (10) the prior standard of living of the parties and whether the parties support others, and (11) general principles of equity.
Spousal support, like child support, is generally modifiable due to a change in circumstances unless the parties agree that it be nonmodifiable.
There are no statutorily mandated formulas for spousal support as there are for child support.