Spousal Support
Fam. Code 4320 — generally half the length of a marriage, open-ended after 10 years
In ordering spousal support a California court considers, among others: whether each spouse's earning capacity can maintain the marital standard of living, including skills and time out of work for domestic duties; contributions to the other's education or career; the ability to pay; each one's needs, obligations and assets; the length of the marriage; age and health; documented domestic violence; and taxes.
Self-supporting in a reasonable time. The goal is that the supported spouse be self-supporting within a reasonable period, which, except in a marriage of long duration, generally is one-half the length of the marriage. The court may order more or less time.
10 years is long duration. A marriage of 10 years or more, from marriage to separation, is presumed to be of long duration, and the court keeps jurisdiction over support indefinitely unless the spouses agree in writing or the court ends it.
Sources for this section (2)
- Fam. Code 4320 — Factors to be considered in ordering spousal support
- Fam. Code 4336 — Retained jurisdiction over support in a marriage of long duration
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed California attorney.