North Carolina Alimony Estimator

How North Carolina alimony works

Purely discretionary — no formula Key factors: Marital misconduct, Relative earnings and earning capacities, Ages and physical/mental/emotional conditions, Amount and sources of income, Duration of the marriage, Contribution by one spouse to education/training/increased earning power of other, Extent to which earning power/expenses/financial obligations of a spouse will be affected by serving as custodian of a minor child, Standard of living during the marriage, Relative education and time necessary for dependent spouse to acquire sufficient education/training for employment, Relative assets and liabilities, Property brought to the marriage by either spouse, Contribution of a spouse as homemaker, Relative needs of the spouses, Federal/State/local tax ramifications, Income previously considered in equitable distribution, Financial need, Ability to pay Duration: No official formula; determined at court's discretion case by case. Informally, often half the length of the marriage. Indefinite/permanent alimony possible in rare circumstances for very old/disabled dependent spouses or long marriages (20+ years) where dependent spouse sacrificed earning capacity.