Connecticut Alimony / Spousal Support

Connecticut alimony, also referred to as spousal support is the amount of money one spouse pays to the other, by court order or through agreement of the parties, for support and maintenance.

Spousal support is intended to preserve the economic status of both parties, as it existed during the marriage. If the parties waive their right to alimony, or if the final judgment does not contains the provision for alimony, neither party can go back to court in the future to seek alimony regardless of a drastic change in circumstances that was not foreseeable at the time of the divorce.

In Connecticut, Pendente Lite alimony is ordered to give support to a spouse who the court determines needs financial assistance pending the dissolution litigation. Either spouse can receive alimony for the period of time it takes to prosecute the complaint for divorce.

An award of alimony in Connecticut is discretionary and neither party is absolutely entitled to receive alimony. Alimony can be either in a lump sum amount or periodic payments; the length of time the payments must be made can be fixed or indefinite. The award can specify whether or not it can be changed in the future and under what conditions. If these decisions are not agreed upon by both parties then they are considered to be in the discretion of the court based on its judgment of fairness and the needs of the parties.

• Length of the marriage
• Causes for the dissolution
• Age of the parties
• Health of the parties
• Station of the parties
• Occupation
• Amount and sources of income
• Vocation skills and employability of the parties
• Estates of the parties
• Liabilities and needs of each of the parties
• Desirability of custodial parent securing employment

Modification of Alimony in Connecticut

Connecticut spousal support can be made non-modifiable with regard to the amount or duration of the alimony by the agreement of both parties. If the agreement or decree does not contain a clause prohibition modification, the court can modify spousal support in the future based upon a substantial change in circumstances.

Termination of Alimony in Connecticut

Spousal support in Connecticut terminates upon the death of either spouse, or the remarriage or cohabitation of the receiving spouse. Spousal support also terminates at the end of the term of the periodic alimony.

Connecticut statutes for divorce and alimony can be found here: