During all divorce proceedings, and even after a divorce has been finalized, Minnesota courts may order one spouse to pay alimony to the other. Alimony —known as spousal maintenance in Minnesota — is meant to provide a spouse who needs financial support with some financial assistance to allow that person to have a reasonable standard of living after the divorce.
Either spouse may petition for an spousal maintenance order. A spouse that is unable to work due to mental or physical disabilities, or is a full-time caregiver for a child who has such disabilities are more likely to get spousal maintenance than a spouse that is capable of working full-time.
Minnesota has two types of spousal maintenance available:
- Temporary spousal maintenance: This is money paid by one spouse to the other while the divorce is still pending or for a limited amount of time after the divorce has been finalized to assist with education or training that will allow the recipient to eventually become self-sufficient. The amount of the payments is based on each spouse’s current income, the needs of the parties, and other factors.
- Permanent spousal maintenance: Courts may order permanent spousal maintenance if there was a long marriage or if the receiving spouse is reasonably unable to become self-sufficient through education or training.
Minnesota does not have a calculator to help you estimate how much you can expect to receive in spousal maintenance. Instead, it makes an order for the amount it considers to be fair based on the circumstances of each divorce. Courts consider factors like each spouse’s financial resources and earning ability, the amount of training or education needed for the receiving spouse and each spouse’s various contributions to the marriage.
To learn more about alimony in Minnesota, speak with a skilled divorce attorney at Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A.
