Alimony, also known as spousal maintenance, is financial support that can be granted to a spouse in a divorce. This is meant to help spouses unable to care for themselves financially after a divorce. For the court to decide to award spousal maintenance to a spouse, the court considers both parties' income and the marriage's length. The Illinois Marrige and Dissolution of Marrige Act describes three different types of alimony: fixed-term, reviewable, and indefinite.
Fixed-Term Spousal Maintenance
Fixed-term alimony involves payments that are provided by one spouse to the other for a set amount of time. The termination date for these payments is decided in advance. This type of alimony is appropriate for people who, after a divorce, have the potential for future employment with an income that allows them financial stability. The goal of fixed-term alimony is to give a person the time to become dependent on themself.
Indefinite Term Spousal Maintenance
Indefinite-term alimony is when a court orders permanent alimony with no termination date. This is appropriate when a spouse has no realistic employment opportunities or after the end of a long marriage—usually given to spouses who, during the marriage, took on the role of a stay-at-home parent or caretaker of the home.
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