Alimony in North Carolina

There are many factors that the court considers when determining whether or not a spouse is entitled to an award of alimony. Those that have been in long-term marriages in which one spouse is dependent on the other spouse for their financial stability, should seek alimony. The court exercises its discretion in determining the amount, duration, and manner of payment of alimony. The duration of the alimony may be for a specified or indefinite term.

In determining the amount, duration, and manner of payment of alimony, the court considers all relevant factors, including:

The marital misconduct of either of the spouses, including incidents of post date-of-separation marital misconduct as corroborating evidence to support that marital misconduct occurred during the marriage and prior to date of separation;
The relative earnings and earning capacities of the spouses;
The ages and the physical, mental, and emotional conditions of the spouses;
The amount and sources of earned and unearned income of both spouses;
The duration of the marriage;
The contribution by one spouse to the education, training, or increased earning power of the other spouse;
The extent to which the earning power, expenses, or financial obligations of a spouse will be affected by being the primary caretaker of a minor child;
The standard of living of the spouses established during the marriage;

The relative education of the spouses and the time necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the spouse seeking alimony to find employment to meet his or her reasonable economic needs;
The relative assets and liabilities of the spouses and the relative debt service requirements of the spouses, including legal obligations of support;
The property brought to the marriage by either spouse;
The contribution of a spouse as homemaker;
The relative needs of the spouses;
The federal, State, and local tax ramifications of the alimony award;
Any other factor relating to the economic circumstances of the parties that the court finds to be just and proper; and,
The fact that income received by either party was previously considered by the court in determining the value of a marital or divisible asset in an equitable distribution of the parties’ marital or divisible property.

How can Easterling Law Help you?

Because alimony can be confusing, you need an experienced advocate like those at Easterling Family Law to help you navigate the confusing calculations of alimony and can help you determine how to best support yourself financially.

To book your appointment call us at 980-272-1365.