One of the purposes of Spousal Support is to help the recipient become self-sufficient and promote the economic self-sufficiency of each spouse within a reasonable period of time.

The recipient spouse is generally expected to make reasonable efforts to achieve self-sufficiency. These efforts may include:

The expectation of self-sufficiency must be balanced against reasonableness given the specific circumstances. Several factors influence what's considered reasonable in each situation:

Parties can agree to time-limited support arrangements to provide the recipient spouse with adequate time to become self-sufficient while establishing clear guidelines.

In cases involving long-term relationships, particularly where the recipient spouse has been out of the workforce for many years, the duty to become self-sufficient becomes less emphasized. In these situations, an indefinite support award may be more appropriate given the challenges of re-entering the job market after an extended absence.

When the recipient spouse is older or has experienced significant health issues, the expectation of self-sufficiency might be reduced or eliminated entirely.

Primary caregiving responsibilities for young children can impact a spouse's ability to become self-sufficient. Courts typically take these responsibilities into consideration when determining support arrangements.

In a case like that, you might find that there's a periodic payment for a period of time while they become self-sufficient. And then when the child is older, that duty to become self-sufficient might arise.