Alimony and Spousal Support

Spousal maintenance, often called alimony, is financial support one spouse may pay the other during or after a divorce. Minnesota law recognizes that one partner may have paused a career, reduced earning capacity, or taken on more homemaking responsibilities so the other spouse could work or advance. Support can be temporary or long term, depending on the facts of the case.

The court reviews several factors when deciding whether maintenance is appropriate and what amount is fair. These factors include:

• Financial resources: The requesting spouse’s income, assets, and ability to meet basic needs independently.
• Education and training: How long it would take to gain the skills or education needed to become self-supporting.
• Standard of living: The lifestyle the couple established during the marriage.
• Length of the marriage: Including any time spent outside the workforce as a homemaker and whether skills or earning capacity have diminished.
• Lost opportunities: Career advancement, retirement benefits, or earnings the requesting spouse sacrificed during the marriage.
• Age and health: Physical and emotional conditions that may affect employability or financial stability.
• Ability to pay: Whether the spouse being asked to pay can meet their own needs while providing support.
• Contributions to the marriage: Both financial and non-financial contributions, including homemaking and support for the other spouse’s career.

Every case is unique. If you have questions about spousal maintenance in Minnesota or how the guidelines may apply to your situation, visit our divorce page or contact us to schedule a consultation.