Email Us for the fastest response

Green Mountain Family Law
  • Home
  • About
    • Amy K. Butler
    • Sarah R. Miller Esq.
  • Family Law
    • Parental Rights And Responsibilities
    • Property Division
    • Mediation
    • Divorce FAQ
  • Blog
  • Contact
Green Mountain Family Law

Email Us

  • Home
  • About
    • Amy K. Butler
    • Sarah R. Miller Esq.
  • Family Law
    • Parental Rights And Responsibilities
    • Property Division
    • Mediation
    • Divorce FAQ
  • Blog
  • Contact

Friendly, Down - to - Earth Legal Services With A Focus On Family Law

  1. Home
  2.  » 
  3. Spousal Maintenance
  4.  » 
  5. Can I get spousal maintenance (alimony) in Vermont?

Can I get spousal maintenance (alimony) in Vermont?

On Behalf of The Law Office of Amy K. Butler, Esquire, PLLC | Jan 9, 2023 | Spousal Maintenance

Alimony – technically called spousal maintenance – is often a contested issue in divorce cases. There are many misunderstandings about spousal maintenance. For example, many people assume it’s automatically awarded in every divorce case, which isn’t true in Vermont.

Whether you can obtain spousal maintenance depends on many factors. There is no simple formula that can answer that question. For that reason, it’s important to speak with an attorney about your case.

When is spousal maintenance appropriate?

Spousal maintenance is ordered on a case-by-case basis. The judge must weigh many factors when making a spousal maintenance determination, including:

  • The couple’s standard of living during the marriage
  • Each person’s income, assets and other sources of financial support
  • Each person’s career prospects, including their job experience and level of education or training
  • Each person’s health and any medical or special needs they may have
  • The duration of the marriage
  • The order determining parental rights and responsibilities (custody arrangement)
  • The cost of living and inflation

Spousal maintenance is more likely to be granted in long-term marriages where there is a significant financial disparity between the spouses, often because one parent stayed home to raise children.

Three types of spousal maintenance

Vermont law establishes several types of spousal maintenance:

  • Temporary: This type of support is granted while the divorce proceedings are pending.
  • Rehabilitative: One party may qualify for rehabilitative support when they need time to complete education or job training to re-enter the workforce. The amount and duration depends on the situation.
  • Permanent: This type of long-term support is not as common as the other two types. Permanent support isn’t necessarily permanent. It typically ends when the recipient remarries or gains other means of financial support.

The same case-specific factors mentioned above apply to all types of spousal maintenance awards.

Recent Posts

  • 3 ways to help children handle their emotions about divorce
  • What’s involved in changing your last name during divorce?
  • Dividing the house in a divorce
  • Is cutting all communication an option for divorcing parents?
  • Divorcing after 50: What are your priorities?

Archives

  • July 2025
  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • July 2022
  • December 2013

Categories

  • Child Support
  • Divorce
  • Family Law
  • Mediation
  • Parental Rights & Responsibilities
  • Property Division
  • Same – Sex Partners
  • Spousal Maintenance

RSS Feed

Subscribe To This Blog’s Feed

FindLaw Network

Contact



Office Location

105 North Main Street Suite 307
Box 5
Barre, VT 05641

Barre Office
Green Mountain Family Law
v

Contact Us

Email Us

© 2025 Green Mountain Family Law • All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Business Development Solutions by FindLaw