How Is Alimony Calculated in Connecticut?

When couples go through divorce, one of the issues that they wish to work out is alimony. Alimony is the payment of one spouse to another to help fulfill their financial needs, but how is alimony calculated in Connecticut?

Connecticut alimony laws provide a list of factors for judges to consider when determining the amount and length of alimony. The statutes do not provide a mathematical formula for the calculation of alimony.

Instead, Connecticut law provides judges with wide discretion to review the financial and personal circumstances of both spouses.

How Alimony Is Calculated in Connecticut

Connecticut courts do not use a statutory alimony calculator to establish the amount of support based on a percentage of income. Instead, after both spouses have presented evidence at trial, the court decides how much, if any, alimony to award by considering the statutory factors in Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-82. These factors can include:

• The length of the marriage
• The age of each spouse
• Each spouse’s health
• Earning potential
• Each spouse’s financial needs
• The standard of living while married

Judges might look at a host of other considerations, though they aren’t obligated to treat each one the same. The judge may weigh different factors more heavily in the final alimony decision depending on the specifics of the divorce.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that Connecticut has a divorce rate of 2.6 per 1,000 people. Another source reports that 12% of women and 9% of men in Connecticut are divorced.

Financial Information That Affects Alimony

The court needs an accurate picture of both spouses’ finances in order to determine whether alimony is appropriate. Income matters, but it’s not the only relevant financial information. Judges might review each spouse’s wages, bonuses, commissions, income from self-employment, investment earnings, and any other financial means. A spouse’s earning capacity might be considered if their current income doesn’t truly show what they’re capable of earning.

The court can also consider the property each spouse is getting in the divorce. For example, a spouse who receives substantial income-producing assets may have different support needs than a spouse who receives primarily non-income-producing property.

The Length of the Marriage

The length of the marriage is one of the factors specifically identified in Connecticut’s alimony statute. A longer marriage may create different financial circumstances than a short marriage, particularly when the spouses have established financial arrangements or one spouse has spent years outside the workforce.

It’s important to note that Connecticut law doesn’t provide a rigid guideline where marriage length automatically dictates a set alimony award for a specific period. Marriage duration is assessed by the court, in conjunction with the remaining statutory considerations.

The Impact of Fault

When determining alimony, Connecticut law allows judges to consider what led to the divorce. Essentially, actions that led to the marriage’s dissolution can carry weight in an alimony determination, despite Connecticut also recognizing divorce on the grounds of irretrievable breakdown.

Fault is therefore not an automatic basis for awarding or denying alimony. The court looks at the circumstances of the particular case, as well as the financial and personal factors.

Hire an Alimony Lawyer

When going through a divorce, it’s important to hire an alimony lawyer to look at the facts of your case and advocate for a fair and favorable outcome. An alimony attorney can look for financial information that may be relevant to an alimony claim or response.

During negotiations, an attorney can craft or assess proposed alimony arrangements, covering aspects like the sum, length, how payments are made, and any conditions for change.

If the spouses are unable to agree, an attorney can present financial evidence and legal arguments concerning the appropriate alimony order to the court, which may be heard at the New London Judicial District and courthouse at 70 Huntington Street, New London, CT 06320.

The Suisman Shapiro Way

For more than 80 years, Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law has represented individuals and families throughout eastern Connecticut.

The Connecticut family law attorneys at our firm handle divorce and related matters involving spousal support, property division, and child custody. With offices including its New London location, the firm serves clients in communities throughout southeastern Connecticut and brings attorneys from multiple practice areas together for divorce issues.

FAQs

How Much Alimony Can You Get in CT?

Connecticut alimony payments have no set amount. The court determines alimony awards based on several factors. These factors are outlined in Connecticut law and can include the length of the marriage, the earning potential of each spouse, and the age and health of both spouses. The division of marital assets and, at times, the reasons behind the marriage’s breakdown can also influence the alimony settlement.

What’s the Average Alimony Payment?

There is no real average alimony payment. Alimony payments are all unique as they are determined based on a number of factors, each of which varies for each case. Before deciding on alimony and its amount, a judge can take into account both partners’ financial requirements and assets, their earning potential, the distribution of marital property, and other considerations.

How Do I Avoid Paying Alimony in CT?

There is no one method to avoid paying alimony in Connecticut. Alimony is generally decided by a court based on the circumstances surrounding the marriage and divorce. However, in an uncontested divorce, the spouses may agree to have neither pay each other alimony if it is something they believe is most beneficial and one spouse is not coerced into the agreement.

How Much Money Should a Husband Give His Wife After Divorce?

Connecticut law does not require a husband to give a former wife any particular amount after a divorce. In some situations, either spouse can receive alimony when the statutory requirements and circumstances justify an award. The amount depends on the particular financial situation of each spouse. An attorney can look at your case and help you anticipate how much you may either pay or receive in alimony.

Start Your Alimony Case Today

If you are going through a divorce, alimony is likely a concern you have. At Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law, we can assist you in this legal process. Speak with a member of our team today to begin securing your financial future.