Once a marriage has lasted 20 years and the parties are nearing retirement, you're probably looking at long term support. Once a couple has been married for ten years, the court MUST retain jurisdiction over support, even if it declines to make a current order for support. Support will also last longer if the spouse is disabled or otherwise unable to provide for himself or herself. Absent agreement to the contrary, however, support generally ends upon the supported spouse's remarriage to a third party, or upon the death of the either party. Also, absent agreement to the contrary, court ordered spousal support is tax deductible alimony to the paying party, and included as income to the receiving party.
Child support is calculated pursuant to a mandatory state child support guideline.
The court and most attorneys use court-approved computer programs to calculate the actual range of guideline support. Temporary support is that amount ordered for the pendency of the divorce action. Rather than rely upon the computer calculation, the court must consider a variety of factors including the needs and eduational levels of the parties, age, tax effects, retraining or occupational needs, health, and the length of the marriage, to name but a few. Child support is not tax-deductible to the paying party. Spousal support generally is.