Does alimony have to be paid for the entire length of the marriage?

In the state of Washington, alimony does not have to be paid for the entire length of the marriage. Alimony, otherwise known as spousal support, is a court-ordered payment of financial support from one spouse to the other during or after a divorce. In Washington state, alimony is based on the length of the marriage and the financial circumstances of the spouses. If the marriage lasted less than five years, the court will typically not award alimony payments. If the marriage lasted between five and fifteen years, the court may award alimony for up to half the length of the marriage. For marriages that lasted longer than fifteen years, the court can award alimony payments for any period of time, up to the entire length of the marriage. The amount of alimony ordered is also determined by the court, and it can be decreased or terminated upon a showing of change in circumstances. Therefore, while alimony payments may not have to be paid for the entire length of the marriage, they do have to be paid as ordered by the court. Additionally, alimony payments cannot exceed the needs of the supported spouse or the financial ability of the supporting spouse.

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Does alimony have to be paid for the entire length of the marriage?

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