How does a court decide who will pay alimony?

In Arkansas, alimony, also known as spousal support, is a court-ordered payment to a former spouse after a divorce. When deciding whether or not to award alimony, the court considers a variety of factors including the length of the marriage, the standard of living during the marriage, the spouse’s income and their ability to pay or receive alimony, the contributing education and economic circumstances of the spouse, and the age of the spouses. The court uses this information to determine the amount of alimony and who should pay it. The court seeks to balance what is fair and equitable for both parties. Generally, the court creates an order in which one spouse pays the other spouse a lump sum or periodic payments, either for a set period of time or for a lifetime. The court may recognize the contributions of a homemaker, or spouse, to the marriage and order the other spouse to pay alimony to the homemaker. However, the court may reduce or terminate alimony if the receiving spouse becomes self-supporting or cohabitates with another person. In Arkansas, alimony determinations are guided by the law, but the court also has the discretion to award alimony if it is needed to provide the receiving spouse with financial support. Ultimately, the court has the final say in who will pay alimony in a divorce and how much they will pay.

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How does a court decide who will pay alimony?

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