Spousal Support
N.D.C.C. § 14-05-24.1 — no permanent support, and a limit tied to the length of the marriage
The court may not award permanent spousal support. It may order support for a limited time if the recipient cannot meet reasonable needs, measured against the marital standard of living, and the payor can pay without undue hardship.
| Length of the marriage | Support may run, as a share of its months |
|---|---|
| Length of the marriageLess than 5 years | Support may run, as a share of its monthsUp to 50% |
| Length of the marriageBetween 5 and 10 years | Support may run, as a share of its monthsUp to 60% |
| Length of the marriageBetween 10 and 15 years | Support may run, as a share of its monthsUp to 70% |
| Length of the marriageBetween 15 and 20 years | Support may run, as a share of its monthsUp to 80% |
| Length of the marriage20 years or more | Support may run, as a share of its monthsAs agreed, or a limited time the court sets |
Unless agreed in writing, support ends on the recipient's remarriage or death, and the court ends it on proof the recipient has cohabited in a marriage-like relationship for one year or more. There is a rebuttable presumption it ends at the payor's full social security retirement age.
Sources for this section (1)
- N.D.C.C. § 14-05-24.1 — Spousal support
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Dakota attorney.