The answer is, of course it depends. Looking at the Merrill factors which govern Alaska state law concerning property and debt division in a divorce, if both husband and wife have about the same education, training and experience then support (termed alimony in other states) is unlikely. However, often times the wife will be a stay-at-home mother, chauffeur, bookkeeper, babysitter, and concierge. Believe it or not this is a full-time job although it does not pay very well.

Sometimes stay-at-home mothers will have sacrificed their jobs and professional careers in favor of raising their children. Their skills may need to be refreshed so that they can enter the workforce and earn a living wage. At other times, it us the man who has sacrificed his career for the sake of the family. Whichever is the the stay-at-home spouse, he or she will rarely have the availability of health insurance or can ill afford the cost of it.

How much (if any at all) spousal support maybe awarded also depends upon the financial condition of the parties and their respective earning capacity. The aim of the divorce judge is not to unfairly advantage or disadvantage one party over the other in the divorce proceedings. It’s also important to keep in mind that fair and equitable does not necessarily mean 50/50.