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Alimony in Connecticut


Alimony in Connecticut is spousal support separate from child support and other divisions of property that come about as a result of a divorce agreement.  Both spouses may file for alimony support and in addition to the permanent version, you may be familiar with, there are temporary and short term alimony arrangements that may be invoked to protect the financial independence of either spouse or ensure that certain expenses are repaid in a fair and timely manner.

Alimony in Connecticut, despite popular perception, can be ordered for both men and women.  This is why alimony arrangements are commonly called spousal maintenance and will have a broad range of standards to ensure that both spouses are treated fairly in court and the ultimate agreement.

How is alimony in Connecticut calculated?

There is no formula to calculate alimony in Connecticut and instead you will need to account for the disparity in the income of the two spouses, which includes their potential income.  Potential income factors to value of benefits, investments and other items of value and then leverages it against the aggregate value of the income of the other spouse.  Significant disparities and the potential for impoverishment of the other spouse will lead to rehabilitative alimony, which is medium term alimony, that allows for the spouse to achieve schooling or training that will ensure their financial independence.  Failure to make good faith attempts to improve their financial dependency and situation may be grounds to have the order terminated.

Reimbursement alimony is related to the limited duration alimony in that the reimbursement is ordered for substantial expenses for education and other relevant investments by one spouse into the other.  The courts will order this when they feel the contribution of that spouse to the other spouse’s potential income is substantial enough to warrant some compensation.

Temporary alimony will be ordered during divorces to provide for the needs of the spouse while the divorce proceeding is ongoing.  This is for those spouses that are especially financially dependent on the other spouse and cannot live in the martial home during a divorce.  Receiving this is not a guarantee of future alimony, but a sign that that the court recognizes the financial difficulties being faced by that spouse.

Relationship of child support and alimony in Connecticut

Child support is decoupled from spousal support, with good reason.  Although both are at the discretion of a judge, the child support is determined by a formula and is usually used to subsidize the needs of the child only.  The court will make considerations for the child support burden and benefits on both sides made that is but a small factor in the overall determination of alimony in Connecticut.

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