Alimony is a court-ordered financial payment from one spouse to the other during or after divorce proceedings. The goal of this court order is to ensure that neither party experiences a significant economic disadvantage due to the divorce.

Virginia recognizes several types of alimony including:

• Temporary Support – Intended to provide short-term financial relief.
• Rehabilitative Support – Paid for a specific period to help the recipient become self-supporting through education, job training, or other means.
• Permanent Support – Usually awarded in long-term marriages or when a spouse is unable to become self-sufficient due to age, illness, or other factors.
• Lump-Sum Support – Paid in a single installment rather than a series of ongoing payments.

Alimony is not automatically granted. The court heavily weighs a variety of factors, including:

• Duration of the marriage
• Standard of living during the marriage
• Age and physical/mental condition of both parties
• Financial resources and earning capacity of each spouse
• Contributions (monetary and non-monetary) to the marriage
• Education and training needs of the recipient spouse
• Grounds for divorce (e.g., adultery or abuse can affect eligibility)

Yes! In Virginia, alimony can be modified or terminated if there are significant changes in circumstances, such as: a substantial change in income, remarriage or cohabitation by the receiving spouse, retirement of the paying spouse. Courts may require a formal petition to review and adjust the support terms.