<P> Today alimony is known as "maintenance" or "spousal support ." Unlike child support, there is a set formula to calculate spousal support pendente lite (pending the litigation), but there is no post judgment formula . A grant of spousal support depends on the facts of the case, such as the disparity between the income of the parties, the duration of the marriage, the health of the parties, and the presence of very young children . In New York, spousal support is rarely granted on a permanent basis, except in cases of physical or mental disability or when the parties are elderly (about 60 years old or older). Generally, it is granted for a set period of time so the other party can get back on their feet after the termination of the marriage . The length of time depends on the facts of the case as the judge sees fit to award . </P> <P> When one party to a divorce is unable to afford an attorney that party is allowed to request the court to order the spouse with the greater income or assets to pay all or part of the other spouse's legal fees . These awards can be on a temporary basis at the beginning of the suit or at the end, as the judge sees fit in each case . </P> <P> A spouse in a divorce often wants to use his or her birth name or a prior name if he or she has changed his or her name before the marriage sought to be dissolved and wants to keep that name after divorce . The court routinely grants the right to such a name change in the final divorce decree . </P>

When did new york became an equitable distribution state