Alimony vs. Child Support
For many couples, navigating the process of divorce can be overwhelming. You may have many questions rFor many couples, navigating the process of divorce can be overwhelming. You may have many questions regarding alimony vs. child support and how these forms of support are determined. How does alimony work, and how long do you have to be married to get alimony? The skilled and experienced family law attorneys at Conniff & Keleher explore alimony and child support more in-depth in the guide below.
Although both involve financial support, alimony and child support serve very different purposes. Alimony supports a former spouse, while child support is strictly for the needs of the child. Courts evaluate these obligations separately under different legal standards.
What Is the Difference Between Alimony and Child Support?
• Alimony (spousal maintenance): Financial support paid to a spouse after divorce based on need and earning capacity.
• Child support: Financial support paid to meet children’s essential needs.
Receiving one does not prevent receiving the other—courts calculate them independently.
How Does Alimony Work?
Alimony, or spousal maintenance, is designed to help a former partner gain independence after the dissolution of marriage if that spouse would otherwise struggle financially following a divorce. In Illinois, spousal support is not awarded in every situation. There are several factors that must first be considered, which include the following:
- The financial needs of each spouse
- Each spouse’s income and property
- Each spouse’s current and future earning potential
- The standard of living established during the marriage
- The length of the marriage
- Prenuptial or postnuptial agreements
- Employability of each spouse
- Other sources of income
Courts may also consider whether one spouse paused career advancement to raise children, whether one party has significantly greater caregiving duties, or whether temporary maintenance is needed during the transition into post-divorce life.
How Long Do You Have to Be Married to Get Alimony?
In Illinois, the duration of alimony depends on how long a couple was married. A judge still has the final say in how to award alimony.
| DurationofMarriage (in years) | Duration of Alimony |
| Less than 5 | 20% of the Marriage’s Length |
| 5-6 | 24% of the Marriage’s Length |
| 6-7 | 28% of the Marriage’s Length |
| 7-8 | 32% of the Marriage’s Length |
| 8-9 | 36% of the Marriage’s Length |
| 9-10 | 40% of the Marriage’s Length |
| 10-11 | 44% of the Marriage’s Length |
| 11-12 | 48% of the Marriage’s Length |
| 12-13 | 52% of the Marriage’s Length |
| 13-14 | 56% of the Marriage’s Length |
| 14-15 | 60% of the Marriage’s Length |
| 15-16 | 64% of the Marriage’s Length |
| 16-17 | 68% of the Marriage’s Length |
| 17-18 | 72% of the Marriage’s Length |
| 18-19 | 76% of the Marriage’s Length |
| 19-20 | 80% of the Marriage’s Length |
| 20+ | 100% of the Marriage’s Length or Indefinitely |
These percentages apply in guideline maintenance cases. For marriages lasting more than 20 years, judges may award maintenance equal to the length of the marriage or indefinitely. Courts may also deviate from the guidelines if strict application would be unfair.
What is Child Support?
Child support is the ongoing payment one parent makes to his or her former spouse to assist in raising any children the couple shares. Child support is intended solely to support the children, not the parent receiving the payments. Illinois child support guidelines use an “income shares” model, where the income of both parents is considered when determining support.
The Income Shares Model estimates what parents would have spent on their child if they had remained together and allocates that responsibility proportionally between the parents.
Here is how child support is determined in Illinois:
- Calculate each parent’s net monthly income.
- Combine each parent’s net monthly income.
- Consult the schedule of basic support obligation based on the parents’ combined net monthly income as well as the number of children the couple shares.
- Use the basic Illinois Child Support Obligation calculator to determine each parent’s individual share of the percentage.
Other factors that may influence child support include parenting-time schedules, other child-support obligations, bonuses or commission-based income, and any extraordinary needs of the child.
Judges may also require parents to share additional expenses when children have healthcare, educational, or developmental needs that exceed typical costs.
A judge may also require additions to child support for expenses such as:
- Health insurance
- Unreimbursed health care expenses
- Child care
- Extraordinary medical or educational expenses
- Extraordinary extracurricular activities
Frequently Asked Questions About Alimony vs. Child Support
Yes. The two obligations are separate and serve different purposes.
No. Child support is exclusively for the child; alimony addresses a spouse’s financial need.
For divorces finalized after 2018, alimony is neither taxable to the recipient nor deductible for the payer.
Both may be modified if there is a substantial change in circumstances, unless maintenance was agreed to be non-modifiable.
Understanding how these support obligations differ helps you plan for long-term financial stability following your divorce. Each family’s circumstances are unique, and the right approach depends on your income, parenting responsibilities, and future goals.
Contact Conniff & Keleher for More Information
If you still have questions about alimony vs. child support, we invite you to set up a consultation with the knowledgeable family law attorneys at Conniff & Keleher. We are here to help you navigate the complexities of the divorce process with compassion and dedication to achieving the best possible outcome for you and your family.
