Alimony (Maintenance)

What it means

Alimony (the common term) is called maintenance in New York courts. It is money paid by the higher-earning spouse to the lower-earning spouse during and after a divorce. The amount is calculated using a formula based on both spouses' incomes. The duration depends on how long the marriage lasted — shorter marriages get shorter maintenance periods, longer marriages get longer ones. Maintenance can be temporary (during the divorce) or post-divorce (after the divorce is final). It usually ends if the receiving spouse remarries or either spouse dies. Either side can ask the court to change the amount if circumstances change significantly — like the paying spouse losing their job.

When you might hear this

You hear this during a divorce. Alimony — called maintenance in New York — is money one spouse pays to the other after a divorce to help the lower-earning spouse get back on their feet.

What to ask