Is there a minimum amount of time the maried couple has to be together to get spousal support? 6 Answers as of February 15, 2012

No, but it is more of a given when it is a long term marriage (10 years or more).

The short answer is that the duration of spousal support (both temporary and long term support combined) is half the length of the marriage, when the marriage is less than 10 years in length. Hence, give the limited facts stated in your question, including that the marriage was 2 years in length, yes, she would likely be entitled to spousal support for up to a year. She should immediately file a motion as part of the divorce for temporary spousal support, including a request that certain expenses be paid by husband. She can also request that husband contribute towards any attorney's fees she may incur for legal assistance. Best to hire a local family law lawyer to help.

In the scenario you described, wife may be entitled to support although the duration may not be very long.

Two years of marriage is sufficient to ask for alimony (spousal support). Usually, I would say a very short marriage of 1 -3 months might be too short to get support. I have seen support paid in marriages as short as 6 months, al though that can be a bit of a stretch as well.

No, there is no minimum time that a couple must be together for either one to get temporary support. Whether that support will be made permanent depends upon the length of the marriage. If the need is great and immediate, she should consult with a family law attorney or facilitator to get support started immediately.

If the parties were married for two years before separation, the wife would likely be entitled to one year of Spousal Support. She can go to the Superior Court's self-help clinic to get assistance preparing the documents to file and serve for a divorce, an Order to Show Cause for Spousal Support and Attorney's fees, and a Waiver of Court Costs, if she can't find a lawyer to represent her due to her lack of funds.