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Legal Information: Missouri

Divorce

Updated: 
January 1, 2024

Can I get alimony?

In Missouri, alimony is called “maintenance.” Maintenance is financial support paid by your spouse or to your spouse. If you request maintenance, a judge may grant it if:

  • you do not have enough money or property, including what you may have received in the divorce case, to provide for your reasonable needs; and
  • you cannot support yourself through appropriate employment, or you are caring for a child whose condition or circumstances keep you from working outside of the home.1

If you ask for maintenance, a judge may decide how much financial support you get and for how long you can get it after considering the following factors:

  1. how much money or property you have to provide for your reasonable needs, including what you may have received in the divorce case and any child support you may be getting;
  2. how much time you need to get enough education or training to find employment;
  3. how much you could earn in a job compared to your spouse;
  4. the standard of living you had while you were married;
  5. your and your spouse’s debts (obligations), money, and property (assets), including what you each received in the divorce and what you own separately;
  6. how long you were married;
  7. your age and your physical and emotional condition;
  8. your spouse’s ability to meet his/her own financial needs while paying you maintenance;
  9. how you and your spouse behaved while married; and
  10. any other relevant factors.2

A judge will also decide if the maintenance order can be changed (modified) in the future. If there has been a “substantial and continuing change of circumstances” that took place before your maintenance order expires, a judge can decide to change your order. You or your spouse may be able to request that the judge decrease, increase, extend, end (terminate), or otherwise change the maintenance order.3

1 MO ST § 452.335(1)
2 MO ST § 452.335(2)
3 MO ST § 452.335(3)