{"id":374438,"date":"2016-09-27T16:30:00","date_gmt":"2016-09-27T21:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/missouri-law\/missouri-alimony.html"},"modified":"2024-06-24T14:26:18","modified_gmt":"2024-06-24T19:26:18","slug":"missouri-alimony","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/missouri-law\/missouri-alimony.html","title":{"rendered":"Missouri Alimony"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Missouri Alimony<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Alimony is part of the divorce process. It helps the lower-earning spouse transition out of marriage and back into the workforce. Spousal support<\/a>, or spousal maintenance, is not guaranteed in Missouri divorces. Courts only order support payments when one spouse requests it during a divorce or legal separation.<\/p>\r\n

Either spouse may request alimony. Unlike some states, which use alimony calculators to determine the amount of an award, Missouri courts require judges to make an initial finding of a need for alimony before setting an amount.<\/p>\r\n

In most cases, alimony has a termination date. It only lasts until the recipient spouse is self-supporting or remarries.<\/p>\r\n

Missouri Alimony Laws<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Missouri law has a two-part process for determining alimony payments. First, a judge must decide if the party requesting the maintenance order:<\/p>\r\n