United States of America: The Surprising Continuing Lack of Consensus Under US Law for the Award of Spousal Support After Divorce

Summary

Résumé

Les trois conséquences patrimoniales potentielles d’un divorce sont en droit américain: le partage des biens, la pension alimentaire pour les enfants (s’il y a des enfants mineurs) et la pension pour un époux. Les règles régissant le divorce étant promulguées au niveau des États, elles varient évidemment è certains égards. Il existe toutefois un accord de principe sur les normes relatives au partage des biens et à l’octroi d’une pension alimentaire pour les enfants. Le consensus sur diverses questions relatives à l’attribution d’une pension pour un époux est, en revanche, loin d’être atteint. Dans cet article, j’analyserai les domaines qui semblent faire l’objet d’un accord général ainsi que ceux qui sont plus conflictuels.

INTRODUCTION

The three potential economic remedies at divorce under US law are property division, child support (if there are minor children) and spousal support. Because divorce rules are promulgated at the state level, they obviously vary in some ways. But there is general agreement regarding standards for the division of property and the award of child support. There is much less agreement about various issues relating to the award of spousal support. In this chapter I will note those areas where there appear to be general agreement as well as the other matters where there is more conflict.

VARIOUS ISSUES THAT ARE PRESENTED BY THE CONCEPT OF POST-DIVORCE SPOUSAL SUPPORT

TYPES OF POST-DIVORCE SUPPORT POSSIBLE

There are three main types of spousal support available in a number of states. The first is ‘rehabilitative support’, which is support given for a fixed period so that the recipient can obtain career training to better prepare them to obtain employment. The second is ‘reimbursement support’, which is support given to one spouse who has financially supported the other during marriage so that he or she could obtain education or training.