Are Stay-at-Home Parents Entitled to Spousal Support in Michigan?

 Posted on September 25, 2026 in Alimony

If you have not worked outside of the home in some time and you are considering divorce, you may have concerns about how you will make ends meet without your spouse’s financial contributions. The prospect of reentering the workforce after being a homemaker or stay-at-home parent for many years can feel overwhelming. You might worry that you do not have the job skills or education needed to gain suitable employment.

You may also worry about being forced to place your children in childcare when you would rather stay home and raise them yourself. Alimony, or spousal support, can provide financial assistance for divorcing spouses who are not the primary wage-earner, but alimony is not available in every Michigan divorce. At Elkouri Heath, PLC, our Novi, MI family law attorneys have over two decades of experience representing parents and spouses. We will approach your spousal support case carefully, with your long-term needs in mind.

When Are You Eligible for Alimony in Michigan?

Spousal support can be arranged in several ways in Michigan. A valid prenuptial or other marital agreement might include terms about spousal support. You and your spouse can also agree on spousal support during the divorce, subject to court approval.

Your lawyer can help you negotiate a spousal support agreement. You may also reach an agreement through an alternative resolution method like mediation or collaborative law. However, many spouses find that getting the other spouse to agree to reasonable spousal support terms is nearly impossible. In this case, you would need to petition the court for a spousal support order.

What Do Courts Consider When Deciding Spousal Support in 2026?

Alimony determinations in Michigan are left to the court’s discretion. The amount and duration of alimony are decided on a case-by-case basis. Michigan courts will consider several factors when deciding whether alimony is appropriate, including:

• The duration of the marriage and the standard of living during the marriage
• The spouses’ conduct during the marriage, including a spouse’s infidelity
• How marital assets are being divided
• Each spouse’s financial situation
• Each spouse’s needs
• Each spouse’s age and health
• Each spouse’s ability to earn income
• Each spouse’s contributions to marital property

If your alimony dispute goes to court, our divorce attorneys can explain how these factors apply to your case.

Can You Get Both Child Support and Alimony in a Michigan Divorce?

Stay-at-home parents in Michigan can receive both child support and alimony in the same divorce. The two payments serve different purposes. Child support covers the needs of the children, such as food, clothing, housing, and medical care. Alimony helps the lower-earning spouse meet his or her own needs after the marriage ends. A court can order one, both, or neither, depending on the facts of the case.

Michigan uses a formula to calculate child support. It looks at factors such as each parent’s income, the number of children, and parenting time. Alimony does not follow a set formula. Under Michigan’s current child support formula, spousal support paid between the parents in the same case is not deducted from the paying parent’s income when child support is calculated.

Child support is not designed to replace the income a stay-at-home parent gave up to raise the children. If you left a career to care for your family, alimony may help fill that gap while you work toward financial independence.

Can Stay-at-Home Parents Get Temporary Alimony During the Divorce?

A stay-at-home parent can ask for temporary alimony while a Michigan divorce is pending. Divorce cases can take months to resolve. A spouse with little or no income can struggle to pay rent, utilities, and other basic expenses in the meantime. Michigan law allows the court to order either party to pay suitable support while the case is pending (MCL 552.13).

A request for temporary support is usually made by motion early in the case. The court can look at each spouse's current income, regular household expenses, and who is caring for the children. A temporary order can help keep finances stable until the divorce is final. It does not decide the amount or length of any long-term support.

Temporary support can also help cover day-to-day expenses while the case is pending. In some families, one spouse controls most of the money or accounts. A temporary order can help make sure basic bills are paid while the divorce moves forward.

What Evidence Should a Stay-at-Home Parent Bring for an Alimony Petition?

The evidence a stay-at-home parent can use to support an alimony request falls into three main groups. The first group shows the family's finances. Tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements, and retirement account statements can show how much your spouse earns and what assets the couple owns. If your spouse is self-employed or earns bonuses, several years of records can give a clearer picture of their income.

The second group shows your needs and the lifestyle you had during the marriage. A monthly budget listing housing, groceries, transportation, insurance, and childcare costs gives the court a clear picture. Records of past vacations or private school tuition can help show the family's standard of living.

The third group shows your role in the home and your ability to earn income. Your work history, education records, and professional licenses can show where your career stood before you stepped away. Evidence of sacrifices, such as turning down a job offer to care for the children, can also be useful. Medical records may be important if a health condition limits your ability to work. In some cases, a vocational expert can review your skills. The expert can estimate what kinds of jobs you could get and how long retraining could take.

Contact Our Oakland County, MI Spousal Support Lawyers

Divorce can create financial stress for a lower-earning spouse. If you wish to learn more about your options for spousal support or alimony in Michigan, contact the experienced legal team at Elkouri Heath, PLC. A skilled Novi, MI divorce attorney from our firm can help you negotiate spousal support or ask the court for a support order. Call us today at 248-344-9700 to schedule a free consultation.