What is alimony?

Alimony is a form of financial support paid by one spouse to another after a divorce. Alimony is also known as spousal support or maintenance. In Delaware, alimony is the legal obligation of a spouse to provide financial support to his or her former partner after a divorce. Alimony is intended to provide financial support to the lower income partner, or the partner who has less earning capacity, and to help them maintain the same standard of living they had during the marriage. The amount of alimony paid depends on a variety of factors such as the length of the marriage, the income of both spouses, the age and health of each spouse, and the standard of living that the couple had before the divorce. In Delaware, the court will consider these factors when deciding whether to grant alimony and how much should be paid. The court may also consider the duration of the marriage, the contributions of each spouse to the marriage, and the needs of both spouses. Alimony payments may be made on a temporary or permanent basis. A court can order temporary alimony while a divorce is pending and permanent alimony to support former spouses for an indefinite period of time. Alimony payments may be modified in the future if circumstances change significantly. In Delaware, alimony payments can be made in the form of a lump sum payment or regular payments. They can also be paid as a percentage of the former spouse’s income or set at a fixed amount. Both the paying spouse and the recipient should keep track of alimony payments for tax purposes.

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Can alimony be awarded to a spouse who has remarried?
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