Spousal support awards are discretionary. MCL 552.23, the statute that authorizes the Court to award spousal support, provides:
Upon entry of a judgment of divorce or separate maintenance, if the estate and effects awarded to either party are insufficient for the suitable support and maintenance of either party and any children of the marriage as are committed to the care and custody of either party, the court may further award to either party the part of the real and personal estate of either party and spousal support out of the real and personal estate, to be paid to either party in gross or otherwise as the court considers just and reasonable, after considering the ability of either party to pay and the character and situation of the parties, and all the other circumstances . . . .
Your attorney’s job for your case is to advocate the facts for each factor to your advantage. To help you and your attorney prepare, describe your and your spouse’s circumstances for each of the following factors. Be as detailed as possible, and include documents where helpful:
(1) The past relations and conduct of the parties
(2) The length of the marriage
(3) The ability of the parties to work
(4) The source of and amount of property awarded to the parties
(5) The age of the parties
(6) The ability of the parties to pay spousal support
(7) The present situation of the parties
(8) The needs of the parties
(9) The health of the parties
(10) The prior standard of living of the parties
(11) General principles of equity (i.e, what do you think is fair, and why?)