"Half the Length of Your Marriage" Rule

How many years have you and your wife been married?

That's a very important question because the answer will determine how long you’ll be forced to pay spousal support if she goes after you for it.

In general, you'll be ordered to pay for an amount of time that's equal to half the length of your marriage. For example, if you were married for 6 years, you’ll probably have to pay for 3. And you'll probably pay for 4 years, 9 months, for a 9-1/2-year marriage.

But if you're (un)fortunate enough to have been married for more than 10 years, you could end up paying indefinitely! (See "The 10-Year Rule.")

So pay close attention to which anniversary you're coming up on while you contemplate divorce...it just might speed up your decision-making process.