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McKnight Law helps clients pursue alimony to get a fair amount of financial spousal support after divorce to help pay bills.
Verified for legal integrity by John McKnight, J.D. | Last updated February 18, 2026
Are you having trouble meeting your financial needs after your divorce? Maybe you can’t maintain the standard of living that you had before, and now you aren’t sure what to do. You can apply for alimony to get financial support.
North Carolina doesn’t have a set formula for calculating alimony. If you try to do it yourself, you could leave money on the table that could otherwise really help you pay your bills. McKnight Law alimony lawyers can assess your situation and help you pursue a fair amount of support. Contact McKnight Law today to learn more about your options for alimony.
Men and women who meet the criteria can get alimony. To qualify, you must meet one of the following criteria:
Before your divorce is final, the judge can award you post-separation support (PSS) to provide temporary support to a dependent spouse in an expedited manner. Wells v. Wells, 1999. This can help you pay for your living expenses while going through the divorce. N.C. Gen. Stat. 50-16. Once finalized, the judge can make an award of permanent alimony, although the award can take many forms depending on the case.
Alimony payments can be paid monthly, periodically, or even in a lump sum or transfer of non-liquid property. Often, the goal of alimony is to allow people time to get back in the work force or go back to school to earn a degree.
Factors Considered When Granting Alimony
While there isn’t a specific formula for awarding alimony in North Carolina, judges do evaluate various factors to determine the amount and duration, if applicable. Early on, the court determines whether either party committed any illicit sexual behavior during the marriage. In addition, the court evaluates other marital misconduct, along with earning capacity, ages, physical and mental health, length of the marriage, and more.
Our lawyers can evaluate your marriage and personal situation to give you an idea of how much you can expect. We have the experience to prepare a case to help you get the money you’re entitled to receive.
The court has numerous options when creating alimony orders. The court may order alimony to be paid by lump sum, periodic payments, income, withholding, transfer of title or possession of personal property or any interest therein, or a security interest in, or possession of, real property. N.C. Gen. Stat. 50-16.1A(1); 50-16.7(a). A court may order a supporting spouse to provide health insurance for a dependent spouse as a form of support and maintenance. Lucas v. Lucas, 2011.
Court ordered alimony terminates upon the death of either of the supporting or dependent spouse or upon the remarriage or cohabitation of the dependent spouse. N.C. Gen. Stat. 50-16.9(b). In our experience, courts in North Carolina most often award spousal support, if at all, for roughly half the length of the marriage.
If you currently pay or receive alimony and the circumstances have changed, you might be able to modify the order. An order for alimony, whether contested or entered by consent, maybe modified or vacated at any time, upon a motion in the cause and a showing of change circumstances by either party. N.C. Gen. Stat. 50-16.9(a). A substantial reduction income that the court binds to be based on a parties bad faith will not warrant modification. Wolf v. Wolf, 2002. Let an experienced attorney here at McKnight Law help you determine whether your spousal support order is appropriate – Call Us today.
John McKnight, our owner and founding partner, has been litigating in North Carolina District and Superior Courts since graduating from the Wake Forest university school of law in 2004. John has been inducted into the North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society for his contributions to the people of the state, and he has personally trained the other lawyers here at McKnight Law, each of whom has many years of litigation experience. We are all members of both the Wake County Bar Association and the North Carolina Bar Association. Our attorneys are routinely recognized by Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America, and we have been selected by Best Law Firms in America as elite family law practitioners. All our lawyers are active in the community and contributing members to the field of law in North Carolina.
John and his staff were wonderful to work with. They created the documents we requested quickly and then reviewed them with us thoroughly once complete. I’ve known John for a number of years – he not only knows the law, but is thoughtful, compassionate, and dependable. All vital qualities when seeking legal advice and support.
— Julia L.
