Why Longer Marriages Often Lead to Longer Support Duration

Executive Summary:

When couples divorce after a long-term marriage, their lives are often deeply intertwined financially, emotionally, and personally. Because of this, courts in New York handle long-term marriages differently from short ones when deciding the spousal support duration. This blog explains why the length of marriage is such an important factor in the eyes of the court, how different types of support work in New York, and what to expect if your situation changes after the order is made.

The Connection Between Marriage Length and Spousal Support Duration

There are many factors that judges consider when determining spousal support duration, but the length of the marriage is often one of the most significant. In long-term marriages, it’s more likely that one spouse made career or lifestyle sacrifices that affected their long-term earning potential. Spousal support duration helps create fairness, giving both parties stability while they transition to life after divorce. Alimony length is meant to reflect the realities of the divorcing couple’s shared life.

To understand how the length of a marriage can shape spousal support duration, consider two different examples:

Scenario 1: 

After 25 years of marriage, Lisa and Tom decided to divorce. During their long-term marriage, Lisa stepped away from her career to raise their children and manage the household while Tom advanced in his profession. When the case went before a New York court, the judge recognized that Lisa’s financial independence had been limited for decades. To give her time to rebuild her career and adjust to living on her own, the court ordered long-term spousal support. The goal wasn’t to punish Tom, but to help Lisa transition into post-divorce life with stability and dignity after so many years of shared financial dependence.

​​Now compare that to a couple whose marriage was much shorter:

Scenario 2: 

Emily and Ryan were married for just four years before deciding to separate. Both worked full-time and maintained their own savings and careers throughout the marriage. Because their financial lives were still relatively separate, the court saw little long-term reliance between them. When determining support, the judge ordered only short-term payments to help cover Emily’s living expenses as she adjusted to the change. In this case, the transition into post-divorce life was smoother, since both spouses were already financially independent.

Whether a marriage is long or short, spousal support duration serves the same purpose: to help both spouses adjust financially after the divorce. The main differences lie in how long that support lasts and what type of support the court awards.

The Difference Between Temporary and Post-Divorce Support

Spousal support is not a one-size-fits-all arrangement. In New York, courts often use different types of support to meet a spouse’s needs at different stages of the divorce.

• Temporary support provides short-term relief during the divorce process. It helps cover essential expenses like housing, food, or healthcare so that both spouses can maintain a reasonable standard of living while waiting for the final judgment.
• Post-divorce support begins once the case is finalized. The court sets the spousal support duration based on the circumstances of the marriage and each spouse’s financial situation.

For couples in a long-term marriage, post-divorce support often lasts several years. In some cases, it can continue indefinitely, especially if one spouse faces health challenges, limited income, or difficulty re-entering the workforce. However, these arrangements are not always permanent, and the alimony length may be changed if circumstances significantly shift.

When Long-Term Support Can Be Modified or Ended

Even though a long-term marriage often leads to longer support duration, New York law allows either spouse to request a modification if there’s a significant change in circumstances.

Common examples include:

• The receiving spouse remarries or begins cohabitating with a new partner.
• The paying spouse loses a job or experiences major income changes.
• The receiving spouse becomes financially independent through work or investments.
• Either spouse experiences serious health or retirement changes that alter financial needs.

Judges will not adjust the spousal support duration without clear and credible evidence. If both parties’ financial situations have evolved, the court can extend, reduce, or end support depending on what is fair under the new circumstances. But remember that the burden of proving the change in circumstances to the court is on the party who is requesting the change.