Spousal maintenance · St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County
An alimony award can shape your budget for years after a divorce, whether you are the one asking for support or the one being asked to pay it.
In Missouri, alimony is called maintenance, and it is never automatic. A judge has to find that one spouse needs it, then weigh a list of factors set by statute. There is no formula, so the result depends heavily on how clearly each side’s finances are documented and presented. As your St. Louis alimony lawyer, Bardol Law Firm helps you understand where you stand and build the financial record that drives the outcome.
- Show what you actually need each month, with records behind every number
- Explain why you cannot yet support yourself, and for how long
- Connect your needs to the standard of living during the marriage
- Test the other side’s claimed expenses against the evidence
- Show the other spouse’s real earning capacity
- Show what you can pay while still meeting your own needs
How Missouri Decides Alimony
A court may award maintenance only if the spouse asking for it meets both parts of a two-part test (RSMo 452.335). That spouse must lack enough property, including their share of the marital property, to meet their reasonable needs. And they must be unable to support themselves through appropriate employment, or be caring for a child whose circumstances make working outside the home inappropriate.
If both parts are met, the court sets the amount and length after considering all relevant factors, including these ten.
- The financial resources of the spouse seeking maintenance
- The time needed to get education or training for appropriate work
- Each spouse’s earning capacity
- The standard of living during the marriage
- Each spouse’s obligations and assets
- How long the marriage lasted
- The age and physical and emotional condition of the spouse seeking maintenance
- The paying spouse’s ability to meet their own needs too
- The conduct of the parties during the marriage
- Any other relevant factor
For a deeper walk through the statute and the case law, see our guide to Missouri alimony laws and our spousal support page.
Nobody should agree to alimony terms without knowing what a court would actually look at.
That is why Bardol Law Firm handles family law and nothing else. We spend every day in these courts, and we explain things in plain English. So we built a one-hour strategy session: you, an experienced attorney, and your actual case, with clear next steps by the end.
$300 · One full hour with an attorney · No obligation to retain our firm
Why the Financial Record Decides Most Alimony Cases
Judges rely on documented numbers, not general statements about money. Each spouse files a sworn statement of income and expenses, and the alimony fight usually happens inside those pages. A claimed expense that cannot be supported, or income that does not show up, can move the result significantly.
We help you prepare a statement that reflects your real cost of living, account for variable or self-employment income, and compare the other side’s disclosures for gaps. When income appears to be understated or moved, our hidden assets work comes into play.
Modifiable, Nonmodifiable and Time-Limited Orders
Every Missouri maintenance order must say whether it is modifiable or nonmodifiable, and the court may also set a termination date (RSMo 452.335.3). Which kind you agree to, or ask the court for, matters as much as the monthly amount.
| Type of order | What it means |
|---|---|
| Modifiable | Either spouse can later ask the court to increase, decrease, extend or end it after a substantial and continuing change in circumstances. |
| Nonmodifiable | The amount and term are locked. Neither spouse can change it later, even if circumstances change. |
| With a termination date | Payments end on a set date. If the order is also modifiable, a change in circumstances before that date can still support a request to extend or shorten it. |
For agreements signed after 2018, alimony is not deductible by the paying spouse and is not taxable income to the receiving spouse under federal law (IRS Topic 452). Older agreements keep the old treatment unless they are modified to adopt the new rule.
What Ends or Changes Alimony
Ends automatically
Unless the parties agreed otherwise in writing or the judgment says otherwise, future maintenance ends when either spouse dies or the receiving spouse remarries (RSMo 452.370).
Can be modified
A modifiable order can change only after a showing of changed circumstances so substantial and continuing that the current terms are unreasonable. Job loss, serious illness and retirement are common examples.
Living with a new partner does not end maintenance on its own. But in a modification case the court must consider how far a cohabiting person shares the recipient’s reasonable expenses, which can support a reduction. Changes only apply going forward, so file promptly if your situation has changed.
Asking for alimony, or being asked to pay it? Know your numbers before you negotiate.
Spend a full hour with an experienced Bardol Law Firm attorney going through the details of your case, understanding your rights, and leaving with clear next steps. It is personalized guidance you can use whether or not you hire us afterward.
$300 · One full hour with an attorney · No obligation to retain our firm
What to Expect When You Work With Us
We review the history of your marriage and your finances, and tell you whether maintenance is likely, which factors matter most, and what to do next.
We gather your documents, prepare your statement of income and expenses, and check the other side’s disclosures for inconsistencies.
If you are seeking support, we build the case for need and ability to pay. If you may be paying, we build a realistic picture of what you can afford, and explain modifiable versus nonmodifiable terms.
Many alimony disputes settle. When they do, we draft terms that are clear about amount, duration and what happens if circumstances change.
If settlement fails, we present the evidence and argue the statutory factors before the judge.
We make sure the judgment states the amount, term and type of order correctly, and we handle modification if a substantial change comes later.
Why Work With a St. Louis Alimony Lawyer at Bardol Law Firm
Bardol Law Firm practices family law and nothing else, so maintenance is always considered alongside property division, debts and any child support in your case. A larger share of the property can reduce the need for maintenance, and the reverse is also true, so we look at the whole settlement rather than one line of it.
Your case is handled by one of our attorneys, Ann Vatterott Bruntrager, Denise N. Gabel, Mikayla Butler or Anna Palmer, with a named paralegal who knows your file. We generally return calls within one business day. Contact Bardol Law Firm to talk through your situation.
Not sure how this applies to your situation?
Bardol Law Firm handles family law and nothing else, in St. Louis County, St. Louis City, St. Charles County and Jefferson County. We generally return calls within one business day.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alimony in Missouri
What is alimony called in Missouri?
Maintenance. People say alimony or spousal support, but Missouri statutes and court documents use maintenance. Our FAQ on the three terms explains the difference.
How do courts decide whether to award alimony in Missouri?
First the spouse asking for it must show they cannot meet their reasonable needs from their property and cannot support themselves through appropriate employment. If that is shown, the judge weighs ten statutory factors, including earning capacity, the standard of living, the length of the marriage and the conduct of the parties. There is no formula.
Can alimony be modified after the divorce?
Yes, if the order is modifiable and circumstances have changed so substantially and continuingly that the current terms are unreasonable. A nonmodifiable order cannot be changed.
Does remarriage end alimony in Missouri?
Yes, unless the parties agreed otherwise in writing or the judgment says otherwise. Maintenance also ends on the death of either spouse. Living with a new partner does not end it automatically, but it can support a modification.
How long does alimony last in Missouri?
It depends on the order. A court can set a fixed end date or leave maintenance open-ended. The length of the marriage and how long the receiving spouse needs to become self-supporting usually drive the term.
This page provides general information about Missouri maintenance law and is not legal or tax advice. Every situation is different, and outcomes depend on the specific facts. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship.
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