Divorce

Alimony (also called spousal support or maintenance) is financial support paid by one spouse to the other. A judge in the U.S. Virgin Islands may order alimony in one large payment (lump sum); in multiple smaller payments (installments), or possibly in other forms.¹ If you ask for alimony, a judge will make a decision about whether to grant you alimony after considering:

1. your and your spouse’s circumstances, such as your living situations;
2. your needs;
3. your independence and your ability to earn your own money;
4. the ability of the person being asked to pay alimony to make payments;
5. your and your spouse’s physical conditions;
6. the kind of life you and your spouse had together; and
7. any other factors the judge finds relevant.²

The judge will determine the amount of alimony that you will receive after considering your and your spouse’s:

• personal income;
• needs;
• potential income;
• bank balances;
• living expenses;
• debts;
• and overall circumstances.⁴

¹ 16 V.I.C. § 109(a)(3); § 341(g); see also Towers v. Towers, No. CIV. 240/1970, 1979 WL 447860
²Morris v. Morris, No. 153-1982, 1984 WL 998145
³ 16 V.I.C. § 345; Fuentes v. Fuentes, No. D89/1995, 1997 WL 34901027