Spousal Support

In a divorce, aside from any child support issues, spousal support can also be an issue. Spousal support is separate from property division, although a court can take into account the property received in the divorce when deciding spousal support.

In Iowa, the court divides all of the spouses’ property acquired before or during the marriage unless the property was a gift or inheritance. Courts consider a variety of factors when distributing the property, including: the contribution of each spouse to the marital property; the value of any property brought to the marriage; how long the marriage lasted; and the age and physical and emotional health of the spouses. Iowa Code section 598.21.

Spousal support, which you may have heard called alimony, can be granted to either spouse. The court can order support for either a specific time period or an indefinite time period. Unlike child support, there are no formal spousal support guidelines that courts use to calculate the amount (if any). The court instead looks to the specific circumstance of the couple, including how long the marriage lasted; the age and physical and emotional health of the spouses; the education level of each spouse at the time of the marriage and at the time of divorce; the financial resources of the spouse requesting support and their earning capacity; and a variety of other factors outlined in Iowa Code section 598.21A.