Does marriage duration affect alimony?

Have you wondered about the connection between marriage duration and alimony in cases of separation and divorce? This topic prompts crucial questions. Does a short-lived marriage entitle the lower-earning spouse to post-divorce financial support? How does the judge weigh marriage duration? Are there legal guidelines? Insights from Italy’s Court of Cassation shed light.

Alimony applies during separation, evolving into divorce alimony. While calculation methods differ, jurisprudence considers them alike. Here’s the crux:

Alimony supports a spouse with insufficient income. However, this economic shortfall shouldn’t result from wrongful actions. Consequently, alimony isn’t obligatory if the less affluent spouse can independently support themselves. Consider a low-earning teacher marrying a wealthy entrepreneur.

However, alimony arises if economic disparity arises from joint decisions, such as one spouse sacrificing a career for family. This includes homemakers who choose part-time work for household management.

Nevertheless, the requesting spouse must prove diligent job-seeking, hindered by health, age, market dynamics, or extended workforce absence.

What’s the alimony quantum?

Once aimed at preserving the economically weaker spouse’s previous lifestyle, Italy’s Court of Cassation now, post-2017 and 2018 verdicts, emphasizes self-sufficiency, ensuring dignified living within societal norms and considering the obligated spouse’s capacity.

Factors Affecting Alimony

Several factors influence alimony, such as:

• Recipient’s income.
• Housing availability.
• Marital duration.
• Obligated spouse’s financial responsibilities (e.g., mortgages, rent).
• Is Divorce Alimony Applicable to Men?

Italian law extends divorce alimony rights to husbands with “inadequate” earnings, regardless of marriage duration. This principle was upheld in a two-year marriage case. Notably, the man’s unemployment mustn’t result from his wrongful actions. Proof of diligent job searching is required, considering constrained job markets.

In summary, alimony intricacies encompass multifaceted elements like economic capacity, housing, and marriage duration. Italian law, substantiated by legal precedents, strives for equitable post-divorce spousal support, irrespective of gender.

VGS Lawyers is specialised in Separation and Divorce. If you need assistance please contact info@vgslawyers.com