Alimony and Spousal Support in North Dakota
How North Dakota decides spousal support (alimony), the factors courts weigh, and how marital property is divided.
Short answer: The court may not award permanent spousal support. It may order support for a limited period if it finds the recipient lacks enough property or income for reasonable needs (considering the marital standard of living) and the payor can pay without undue hardship. N.D. Cent. Code § 14-05-24.1
| Alimony (spousal support) | The court may not award permanent spousal support. It may order support for a limited period if it finds the recipient lacks enough property or income for reasonable needs (considering the marital standard of living) and the payor can pay without undue hardship. Factors include age, earning ability, length of the marriage, conduct during the marriage, station in life, circumstances and needs, health, and financial circumstances including property owned at the divorce. Source: N.D. Cent. Code § 14-05-24.1 |
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| Dividing property | The court makes an equitable distribution of the spouses' property and debts. Unless the spouses agree on a valuation date, marital property and debt are valued as of sixty days before the first scheduled trial date. The statute does not define separate property; how premarital, gifted or inherited property is treated is set by North Dakota case law. Source: N.D. Cent. Code § 14-05-24 |
Where to get help in North Dakota
More North Dakota divorce & family law
- Getting a Marriage License in North Dakota
- Adopting a Child in North Dakota
- Guardianship of a Child or Adult in North Dakota
- Establishing Paternity in North Dakota
- Changing Your Name in North Dakota
- Child Custody Laws in North Dakota
- How Child Support Is Calculated in North Dakota
- Divorce Records in North Dakota
- How to File for Divorce in North Dakota
- Legal Separation and Annulment in North Dakota
- All North Dakota divorce & family law rules
FAQ
How is alimony decided in North Dakota?
The court may not award permanent spousal support. It may order support for a limited period if it finds the recipient lacks enough property or income for reasonable needs (considering the marital standard of living) and the payor can pay without undue hardship. Factors include age, earning ability, length of the marriage, conduct during the marriage, station in life, circumstances and needs, health, and financial circumstances including property owned at the divorce.
Is North Dakota a community property state?
The court makes an equitable distribution of the spouses' property and debts. Unless the spouses agree on a valuation date, marital property and debt are valued as of sixty days before the first scheduled trial date.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.