Spousal maintenance, as it’s officially termed in the state, addresses the financial support one ex-spouse may provide to the other following the dissolution of marriage. Awards are not guaranteed; rather, they are determined on a case-by-case basis, considering various factors. For instance, if one spouse significantly supported the other’s education or career advancement during the marriage, a court may order payments to compensate for the financial disparity that results from the divorce.
The possibility of financial support after a separation offers a crucial safety net for individuals who may have sacrificed career opportunities during the marriage to raise children or manage the household. This system acknowledges the contributions of both spouses, even if those contributions were not directly income-generating. Historically, such awards were primarily granted to women, but the current legal framework is gender-neutral, focusing on need and ability to pay, as well as the overall fairness of the outcome given the circumstances.