In North Carolina, there are two types of spousal support: post-separation support and alimony. 

• Post-separation support is a temporary payment that a court can award one spouse during the parties’ separation period.
• Alimony is a final court disposition ordering one spouse to make certain payments for a set period of time (or indefinitely) to the other.

North Carolina courts examine several factors in calculating post-separation support or alimony awards, including the following:

• Each spouse’s income and earnings
• The spouses’ ages
• The spouses’ physical, mental, and emotional health
• The length of the marriage
• Whether one spouse contributed to the other’s education during the marriage
• Each spouse’s assets and liabilities
• Any marital misconduct that occurred

If you think your former partner owes you some form of support, or if he or she is demanding financial support from you, engage an attorney right away. At Stauff & Gross, we understand and respect the importance of securing your financial future and can help you manage a potentially contentious child or spousal support case.