Maintenance or Spousal Support
Alimony, maintenance and spousal support are the same thing. It is a temporary or permanent financial support payment made from one spouse to the other. It can be made in one lump sum or in installments. Spousal support is designed to provide money for the reasonable living expenses of the other spouse.
Spousal support is significantly different from child support because the law in Minnesota does not provide specific guidelines for the calculation of spousal support and leaves the determination of the amount to the discretion of the judge. Child support is usually determined by state-sanctioned guidelines.
Factors that are considered by the court in determining spousal support include; the financial condition of both spouses, the length of the marriage; the earning capacity of each spouse, the standard of living established during the marriage and all other relevant circumstances.
Because spousal maintenance is not governed by state-sanctioned guidelines, the amount awarded by a court can vary dramatically based upon your individual circumstances. It is important to obtain advice from a competent family law attorney in regard to the issue of spousal support to assure that your individual financial circumstances can be properly presented.
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