Divorce can take an emotional and financial toll on both parties involved. For couples with income disparities, alimony helps ensure the lower-earning spouse maintains financial stability. Illinois has guidelines for alimony duration, but judges consider unique circumstances when making final decisions.
Calculating Alimony Duration in Illinois
Illinois utilizes a formula to calculate alimony duration based on the length of the marriage. For marriages lasting less than five years, alimony payments typically continue for 20 percent of the time the couple is married.
For marriages between five and 20 years, the percentage used to determine alimony duration increases incrementally based on the total years married. A marriage lasting five to six years would result in alimony payments over 24% of the time married. A six- to seven-year marriage equals alimony for 28 percent of the duration. The percentage keeps increasing up until marriages lasting 15 to 20 years.