Typically when spouses decide to go their separate ways, there can be great difficulty in stretching income that would pay for expenses of one household to now pay for two. In North Carolina, the claim of alimony or spousal support is recognized and often brought by one party who is dependent upon the other spouse for economic support. A Court may look at the reasonable needs of the dependent spouse (the spouse who claims that they are in need of maintenance and support) to determine if they are truly in need of support from the other spouse. If the Court finds that a dependent spouse is in need and the supporting spouse has the ability to pay, after taking into consideration the supporting spouses reasonable needs, the Court may award alimony.
