Can I get spousal support if we were only married for two years?
Entitlement to spousal support after a short marriage is possible but harder to establish. Courts and the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines (SSAG) generally produce shorter durations and lower amounts for brief relationships, but the facts still matter.
If the short marriage caused real financial disadvantage — for example, you moved cities, left a job, or gave up a career opportunity for the relationship — you may have a compensatory claim. If you have a child from the marriage and are the primary caregiver, that adds a strong basis for support regardless of how short the marriage was.
For a marriage this short, the SSAG generally point toward a shorter, more modest support duration when there are no children and no significant career sacrifice, but the actual figure the Guidelines would produce depends on many case-specific inputs and isn't something to state as a fixed range in advance. However, if the recipient gave up substantial income-earning opportunities during the marriage, the court may depart from the lower end. A very short marriage where both parties are financially independent and no sacrifice was made may produce little or no support. A lawyer can assess your specific situation and give you a realistic picture of what to expect.
Key takeaways
- Short marriages can still give rise to support if real financial disadvantage was suffered.
- Caregiving for a child strengthens a support claim regardless of marriage length.
- SSAG typically produces shorter durations for brief marriages.
- A lawyer can assess whether your specific facts justify a claim.