Question: how long do you have to be married to get lifetime alimony?
Answer: In mid-term marriages, alimony is favored and may last 1-5 years beyond the date of divorce. The longer the mid-term marriage (for example 17 years), the more maintenance is favored. In long-term marriages, alimony is favored and can exceed 5 years in duration, even awarded up to a lifetime award (to retirement age).