How does a court determine spousal maintenance or alimony?

Spousal maintenance, also called alimony, is when one spouse provides financial support to the other spouse after a divorce. In Oklahoma, the courts take a myriad of factors into consideration when deciding whether or not to award alimony. Some factors include the length of the marriage, the earning capability of both spouses, their standard of living during the marriage, and their age and health. The court will also consider whether one spouse is working or not, if one spouse has not been in the workforce for a period of time, and whether or not one spouse has a responsibility to care for children from the marriage. The court also considers whether one spouse contributed to the education or training of the other spouse during the marriage. If the spouse who received the education and training has not been able to obtain a job or achieve a certain level of financial independence due to other factors, the court may consider awarding alimony for a period of time. The court must also consider the current circumstances of the spouses, such as their age, health, earning capacity, and financial needs. The court will also consider any prior agreements between the spouses to determine if alimony should be awarded. In Oklahoma, alimony is a temporary arrangement to help the spouses go through the transition process. The amount and duration of spousal maintenance is decided by the court. Generally, alimony is meant to help the spouse who earns less income receive enough money to maintain a similar lifestyle to that of the marriage.

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How does a court determine spousal maintenance or alimony?

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