How long must a marriage last to qualify for alimony?

In Delaware, a marriage must generally last at least 18 months to qualify for alimony. This is known as the “18-month rule.” The rule is in place to make sure that alimony is not granted in relationships that are too short in duration. The 18-month rule does not apply in certain circumstances, such as when a party is disabled or has been the victim of severe domestic abuse. In addition to the 18-month rule, Delaware’s alimony law requires that the parties must have been legally married or in a civil union when they separated in order to be eligible for alimony. This means that if the parties were never legally married, then alimony would not be granted in Delaware. Although the 18-month rule is a good way to prevent alimony from being granted in situations where it’s not needed, it does not prevent people from filing for alimony when they are separated after a short-term relationship. Therefore, it’s important to note that a couple’s eligibility for alimony will still depend on the facts of the case, even if the marriage does not meet the 18-month rule. In other words, even if the parties meet the 18-month rule, they may still be ineligible for alimony if the court does not deem it necessary given the circumstances.

Related FAQs

Are alimony awards different in each state?
Can an alimony award be modified if the recipient's income increases?
Is alimony modified if the recipient becomes self-supporting?
Can a court award alimony to a spouse who has committed adultery?
Is alimony based on need or fault?
Can alimony be modified?
What happens to alimony if the payor dies?
Are living expenses included in an alimony award?
Is alimony taxable to the payor in all states?
Is alimony revoked if the payor declares bankruptcy?

How long must a marriage last to qualify for alimony?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts