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EspañolIf the judge orders alimony, how long will it last?
Alimony can either be temporary (“transitional”) or permanent (“indefinite”).1 However, even if the judge believes alimony is appropriate after considering all of the relevant factors, how long an alimony award will last depends on how long you were married, as you can see in the chart below.
| If you were married… | Then the judge should award… |
|---|---|
| less than five years | no alimony. |
| between five and 20 years | temporary alimony for no longer than half the length of the marriage. |
| 20 years or more | permanent alimony.2 |
The length of your marriage is calculated from the date you got married to the date the divorce case was filed. Any alimony that was ordered before August 1, 2024 will be considered temporary.2
Note: The time periods explained above are what’s called a “rebuttable presumption,” which means the judge will assume that these are correct. However, either party may be able to present evidence to try to convince the judge to change it.2
1 Minn. Stat. § 518.552(2)
2 Minn. Stat. § 518.552(3)
