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Former "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson may soon be dealing with a judge of his own. Jackson's wife of 18 years Erika Jackson has filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, reports TMZ.
In addition to custody of their remaining minor child, 17-year-old Jordan Jackson, Erika also reportedly wants spousal support.
How does a judge typically determine whether a spouse should be awarded alimony?
Alimony May Be Awarded at Judge's Discretion
Unlike child support, which is often awarded according to a set formula or along specific guidelines, spousal support, commonly known as alimony, may be awarded based on a number of factors within the court's discretion, depending on the laws in your state.
Among the factors usually considered by family law judges in the factoring of spousal support are:
After weighing these factors, a judge may choose not to award alimony to either spouse. In addition, in a limited number of states, a pre-nuptial agreement may waive or limit a spouse's right to alimony, although in many states this is prohibited.
Types of Alimony
There are also several different types of alimony that may be awarded in a divorce. These include:
For more helpful information on alimony, checkout FindLaw's free Guide to Spousal Support.
As for Randy Jackson's divorce, Ericka reportedly filed the initial paperwork Friday in Los Angeles. Once Randy is properly served with those court documents, California law gives him 30 days to file a response.
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