What is alimony?

Alimony, also known as spousal support or maintenance, is a form of legal compensation from a higher-earning spouse to a lower-earning or non-earning spouse. This payment is designed to ensure that both parties in a divorce are able to maintain a similar standard of living, despite any financial or lifestyle changes that occur as a result of the split. In the state of Hawaii, alimony is awarded to a spouse in order to help them maintain a certain lifestyle while they seek employment and become financially independent. In some cases, alimony may be awarded for an indefinite amount of time while in others, it may be used to bridge a temporary gap in income or for a specific purpose. In either situation, alimony payments are determined by considering a number of different factors including the length of the marriage, each spouse’s earning potential, the ability of each spouse to work and generate income, and each spouse’s financial resources. Ultimately, alimony in Hawaii is used to ensure that both parties are treated fairly and enjoy equal economic well-being following a divorce.

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