Reimbursement alimony is a type of support that may compensate one spouse for financial or personal contributions made during the marriage. It often comes up when one spouse helped pay for the other's education, training, professional license, or career growth.
Courts may consider whether one spouse sacrificed income, paid tuition, covered household expenses, or provided childcare while the other spouse improved earning capacity. The focus is often on fairness and repayment, not only current financial need.
Reimbursement alimony is not available in every state, and some states may use a different label or handle the issue through property division instead. The amount may depend on records showing payments, sacrifices, and the benefit received by the other spouse.
Anyone claiming reimbursement support should gather tuition records, loan documents, tax returns, bank records, and proof of career-related contributions. A calculator may not capture this type of award, so legal review is especially important.
Related resources
Related FAQ
- What is alimony?
Alimony is financial support one spouse may pay the other during or after divorce when one spouse has need and the other has ability to pay.
- How is alimony calculated?
Alimony is calculated differently by state. Some states use formulas or advisory guidelines, while others rely mostly on judicial discretion.
- What is rehabilitative alimony?
Rehabilitative alimony is support intended to help a spouse become self-supporting through work, education, training, or transition time.
- What is temporary alimony?
Temporary alimony is support paid while a divorce case is pending, before the final divorce order is entered.
Educational use only. SettleCompass provides educational estimates only and is not a law firm or legal advisor. Results vary by jurisdiction, judge, and case facts. Consult a qualified family law attorney before making decisions.