Kunkle v. Kunkle

When Can Spousal Support Last Indefinitely in Ohio?

How long does spousal support last in Ohio? When an Ohio court awards spousal support, one of the most important questions is how long the payments will continue. Contrary to a common misconception, a long marriage does not automatically mean permanent spousal support.

In Kunkle v. Kunkle, 51 Ohio St.3d 64 (1990), the Ohio Supreme Court established that spousal support should generally be limited to a reasonable period and terminate on a date certain when the recipient spouse has the ability and potential to become self-supporting.

Kunkle identified circumstances that may justify indefinite support, including:

• A marriage for a long duration;
• Parties of advanced age; or
• A spouse who has been a homemaker with limited opportunities to develop meaningful employment.

However, these circumstances do not automatically require indefinite support.