In Washington DC, the court has the discretion to award alimony to either party in a divorce. Alimony is based upon several factors, such as the length of the marriage, the income and assets of each party, the age of each party, and the ability of each party to pay or receive alimony. Talk with your lawyer about options available to you to avoid alimony. With a thorough understanding of all the factors the court considers when deciding alimony your legal team can help guide you through the process and create a strategy to avoid or limit alimony. This could include a buyout or a lump-sum payment to your spouse in exchange for waiving their right to alimony.