With the passage of the Alimony Reform Act of 2011 and its subsequent enforcement starting March 1, 2012, Massachusetts couples contemplating or undergoing divorce have suddenly been presented with a wider array of alimony possibilities.
Those who sought divorce prior to the reform act only had one option: General Term. This periodic payment of support by the payor (stereotypically the man) to an economically-dependent recipient has been the widely accepted understanding for years of how alimony works. The duration of alimony didn’t vary much – in most cases, alimony was to be paid indefinitely. Without a formula, the amount varied widely depending on the parties and, if they did not agree, the Judge. Read More >>