Either spouse can request alimony in a Minnesota divorce. The judge will determine whether he or she requires financial support to establish a separate household.
Review the factors that influence spousal support in the state if you have considered ending your marriage.
Eligibility for alimony
Judges can award spousal support only in certain circumstances. The requesting person must show that he or she has insufficient assets to maintain the standard of living the couple had while married, cannot get a job that provides adequate financial support, or serves as the primary caregiver to a young child.
Amount and duration of support
Minnesota does not have an exact formula to determine how much alimony an eligible person will receive. The court considers these factors:
- How each of you contributed to the household, whether financially or supporting the family as a homemaker
- Whether the paying spouse can remain self-supporting while providing alimony
- Whether the requesting spouse lost earning capacity, employment benefits, retirement benefits, seniority or loss of earnings as a result of leaving the workforce to care for children or support the other person’s career
- How long the marriage lasted and the standard of living you had together
- How long the requesting spouse needs to pursue training or education to become financially self-sufficient
- Each person’s assets, including his or her share of marital property
- Each person’s mental and physical health and age
Depending on these factors, the judge in your case may order temporary, short-term or long-term maintenance. Temporary maintenance lasts until the final divorce order only. Most orders are short-term with a specified end date.
