How does the duration of the marriage affect the determination of spousal support?

Courts look to the duration of the marriage because this factor can affect other factors, such as the earning capacity and the age of the recipient. On the contrary, if the length of the marriage was very short, a judge is unlikely to award spousal support, unless of course, there are young children of the marriage.

Judges are also unlikely to award spousal support for a longer term than the marriage itself. That is, if you were married only two years, don’t expect to get five years of spousal support.