How to Figure Alimony Payments in Iowa

By Heather Frances J.D.

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After divorce, one spouse is sometimes left without financial resources to support herself, but alimony -- sometimes called spousal support -- can help. An Iowa court can award alimony to either spouse based on certain statutory factors. However, unlike child support, it is not awarded according to a formula or percentage of the other spouse’s income.

Alimony

In Iowa, alimony is a payment that replaces a spouse’s legal obligation to support his spouse during the marriage and it must be court-ordered. Spouses do not have a right to receive alimony, and alimony is not ordered in every case. Whether the court in your divorce will award alimony depends on the circumstances of your marriage and whether you and your spouse are capable of supporting yourself.

Types of Alimony

Iowa courts may award three types of alimony: traditional, rehabilitative or reimbursement. Traditional alimony is awarded permanently, generally in cases where the spouses were married for many years, during which one spouse stayed at home while the other worked outside the home. If the dependent spouse cannot support herself, often because of many years spent outside the workforce, the court could award traditional alimony. Rehabilitative alimony is awarded for a period of time that will allow one spouse to receive training or education to become capable of supporting herself. Reimbursement alimony is awarded in cases where one spouse contributed significantly to the other spouse’s earning potential, such as a wife who works to put her husband through medical school.

Factors

Iowa does not use a formula to calculate alimony in every case. Rather, Iowa courts look at various factors to decide whether alimony is appropriate in each case and, if so, how much the court should award. Factors include the length of the marriage, health of the spouses, how the marital property is to be divided and each spouse’s earning capacity and education level.

Modification

An Iowa court can modify an alimony award if there has been a substantial change in circumstances since the alimony was originally ordered. A substantial change in circumstances could include dramatic changes in employment, changes in one spouse’s needs or a spouse’s remarriage. For example, when a spouse supported by rehabilitative alimony has completed her education plan early, the paying spouse may ask the court for a modification to end the alimony early. Similarly, if the supported spouse remarries, the paying spouse may ask for a modification since the supported spouse now has other means of support.

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