When an Ohio couple divorces, depending on the specific circumstances, alimony, also known as spousal support, may be an issue. While not always the case, historically, women have been on the receiving end of this arrangement more often than men.

The idea behind awarding a spouse alimony is that it will level the financial playing field for that spouse who may make much less than the other. When spousal support is an issue, there are a variety of factors that may be taken into consideration including the length of the marriage, the age of each spouse, the level of education each spouse has attained and the potential each spouse has to earn a living

Throughout the country, reforms of the alimony system are taking place. As is often the case in any reform, the results are mixed. In Florida, one of the states currently considering legislation on the matter, it is proposed that alimony payments would automatically end as soon as the spouse making the payments reaches retirement age, even if the person does not retire. Under this proposal, it is easy to see how spouses who stayed at home for much of a long marriage would feel that they were not getting a fair deal.

It is unclear how many states will ultimately adopt reforms concerning spousal support, or if Ohio will take part. What is clear is that it that when divorcing, it is important to make sure one is getting all to which he or she is entitled. An experienced family law attorney can discuss the available options.

Source: Forbes, "Alimony Reforms Continue to Create More Uncertainty for Divorcing Women," Jeff Landers, Jan. 18, 2012