Time

• Statutory alimony may be indefinite or rehabilitative or both.  Indefinite alimony means until either spouse dies or the payee remarries.  Rehabilitative alimony means for a fixed period of time.
• Pendente lite alimony is paid during the legal proceedings until the divorce trial.  Pendente lite alimony is also called temporary alimony.

Purpose

• The purpose of statutory alimony is to enable a person to become financially able to support theirself.
• The purpose of pendente lite alimony is to maintain the status quo until trial.

Elements

• To determine statutory alimony, the court must consider various factors, including fault.
• To determine pendente lite alimony, the court considers the payee’s needs and the payor’s ability to pay.

When Decided

• Statutory alimony is decided at the divorce trial.
• Pendente lite alimony is decided at the Pendente Lite Hearing.