What is a permanent alimony award?

A permanent alimony award is an order from the court, typically issued after a divorce has been finalized, that obligates one of the former spouses to financially support the other spouse indefinitely. This type of alimony award is sometimes referred to as "permanent" because it has no set duration or time limit. Permanent alimony is usually given when a spouse has not been employed for a long period of time, has significant medical or financial needs, or when the spouses were married for a long time. In Delaware, permanent alimony awards are only used in certain circumstances. Generally, a court will order permanent alimony if one spouse is not financially capable of supporting themselves after divorce, or if the marriage lasted for more than ten years and the court feels that granting permanent alimony would be in the best interests of both spouses. The amount of the award and duration can be adjusted by a court if the financial circumstances of either spouse changes in the future. In Delaware, it is important to note that permanent alimony does not necessarily mean that a spouse is entitled to receive payments from their former partner for the rest of their life; courts can terminate or modify alimony orders based on changes in the financial circumstances of the receiving spouse or if the paying spouse has a severe change in health. In addition, the payment amount is typically reduced or terminated when the recipient spouse remarries.

Related FAQs

Can alimony be awarded if the couple was never married?
Is alimony awarded based on the length of the marriage?
Are alimony payments taxable to the payor in some states?
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What is a permanent alimony award?

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