Divorce

To decide whether to give you alimony, also known as spousal support, the judge will consider:

• how long you’ve been married; 
• your ability to become self-supporting in a reasonable amount of time; and
• both spouses’:
  • ability to pay support;
  • age;
  • employment history and job potential;
  • income history and income potential;
  • education and training;
  • retirement provisions and health insurance benefits;
  • tax consequences for the sale of your marital property or home;
  • health and any disabilities;
  • tax consequences because of a spousal support award;
  • contributions as a homemaker;
  • contributions to the education or earning potential of the other spouse;
  • financial wrongdoing that led to a loss of property or income;
  • economic abuse;
  • standard of living during the marriage;
  • actual or potential income from property awarded as part of the court’s distributive order;
  • child support orders; and
  • any other factors that the judge thinks are appropriate.¹

If the judge gives an alimony order, it must include any limits the judge believes are fair. These could include limits on:

• how much alimony can increase or decrease, or how long it will last;
• how the alimony payments are made;
• whether alimony will stop if you get remarried or start living with a new romantic partner (cohabitation).²

¹ ME ST T. 19-A § 951-A(5)
² ME ST T. 19-A § 951-A(3)