Some marriages end in divorce.
Oklahoma courts have been dealing with divorce for a long time. Whenever a married couple divorces, it's possible that one party or the other will have to pay alimony. Like every other state, Oklahoma has laws governing how alimony can be paid and how it is determined.
General
In Oklahoma, alimony can be referred to as both alimony and spousal support. These terms are interchangeable and both refer to payments from one spouse or ex-spouse to the other during the course of a divorce or subsequent to a divorce decree. In general, alimony payments in Oklahoma are aimed at keeping relative financial equity between the two spouses or former spouses after a divorce.
Payment
Alimony payments may be made by any party in a marriage. These payments can begin as soon as either party files for divorce. Oklahoma is a no-fault divorce state, meaning neither party must show cause for divorce other than stating they believe the marriage is irrevocably and irretrievably broken. The payments can be made as a single sum, or in monthly installments.
Length of Marriage
There is no definitive rule on how long a marriage must last before alimony or spousal support can be awarded. If the parties cannot come to an agreement themselves, it is up to the court to determine both the length and amount of alimony to be paid. In general, courts apply a three-year to one-year ratio awarding alimony payments. So, for every three years of marriage, one year of alimony or marital support will be ordered. However, courts may impose different alimony-award time measurements as they see fit.
Modification
Oklahoma law also recognizes several ways in which alimony payments can be stopped or modified. If the party paying alimony dies, Oklahoma law states that all alimony support payments will terminate. If the former spouse voluntarily cohabitates with a member of the opposite sex, the party paying alimony can petition for modification of the alimony judgment. In such cases the court has the ability to decrease or terminate future support payments, if evidence is shown that a substantial change of financial circumstances has taken place.
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