Alimony is based on a number of factors that inform the court as to whether there should be support payed to financially weak spouse. The primary factors are whether the potential payor has an ability to pay and whether the potential recipient has a financial need. The other factors used by the court include the incomes of the parties, the length of marriage, contributions to the marriage (economic and non-economic), marital lifestyle and the ability of each party to maintain it, and others.
Generally, the longer the marriage, and the greater the disparity in income between the parties, the greater the chance that alimony will be ordered.