Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed March 15, 2019
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In D.C., a judge may order a higher-earning spouse to pay their lower-earning spouse alimony or spousal support. Parties in a divorce or legal separation proceeding may agree to alimony or a spouse may request it from the court. The purpose of alimony is to provide "reasonable and necessary support" to one spouse after the couple is no longer together.
While consulting with an attorney to understand how the law applies to you is always advisable, you can also learn a lot about the law by referencing a plain language summary of the content. See the chart below for a basic overview of alimony/spousal support laws in D.C.
Statutes |
District of Columbia General Laws: |
How to Get Alimony |
Divorce or Legal Separation If you and your spouse are getting a divorce or a legal separation, both of you may agree to an alimony arrangement. If you don't agree, then you can still get alimony by requesting it from the court. However, you can't request alimony after the proceedings are over. Annulment If you want an annulment and your spouse contests the annulment you may request alimony from the court. The court |
Alimony Factors |
The court will determine the nature, amount, and duration of support using certain factors including, but not limited to, the following:
|
Alimony Payments |
Duration Unless the parties can agree, the judge will determine whether the spousal support will be temporary, indefinite, or for some other duration that's appropriate for the situation. The court has a lot of discretion in making these determinations. Indefinite Alimony This type of alimony lasts until the following:
Rehabilitative Alimony/Term-limited Alimony This type of alimony lasts for the time ordered by the court or agreed upon by the parties. Ideally, during this time, the spouse who's receiving the support obtains training and/or work experience to become self-sufficient. Modification After the divorce, the alimony order can be modified if there's a "significant change in circumstances." The court can change the alimony award if the paying spouse's ability to pay has changed or if there has been a change in the needs of the spouse receiving the payments. |
Note: State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
Spousal support might be an important aspect of your divorce or legal separation proceedings. If you need more information about how alimony laws may affect you, then you should seek legal help. Discuss your situation with a skilled D.C. divorce lawyer right away.
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