What is alimony?

Alimony is a court-ordered financial payment by one spouse to another following a legal separation or divorce. In Hawaii, alimony is known as “spousal support” and is calculated based on need and the ability to pay. It is intended to provide financial support to the dependent spouse and can be paid in a lump sum or periodic payments. Alimony payments are usually determined using the state’s divorce laws. In Hawaii, the court considers several factors when deciding the amount and duration of alimony, including the length of the marriage, each spouse’s age and health, each spouse’s earning ability, any contributions to the marriage or other financial resources available to the dependent spouse, and any marital misconduct. Alimony payments are often required for a certain number of years, but the court may also require permanent alimony if one spouse is unable to ever become financially independent. Alimony can also be modified later if either spouse’s financial circumstances change. In Hawaii, both spouse’s income and assets are taken into consideration when determining alimony, regardless of who was at fault for the divorce. As such, alimony payments are designed to allow the dependent spouse to maintain their prior standard of living while adjusting to their new life after the divorce.

Related FAQs

What documents are required to prove alimony payments?
Is alimony awarded based on the length of the marriage?
Does alimony have to be paid if the recipient moves away?
Is alimony modified if the recipient becomes self-supporting?
Is alimony taken into consideration when calculating child support?
What are the rights of an alimony payor?
What happens if the payor moves out of the country?
Are alimony awards different in each state?
Can an alimony award be modified if the recipient's income increases?
Are there rules for ending alimony payments?

What is alimony?

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