Hingham, MA family law attorney Carmela M. Miraglia discusses how long alimony orders typically last in Massachusetts. She explains that in Massachusetts, general term alimony orders are determined by the length of the marriage. The Alimony Reform Act changed general term alimony from being indefinite to having a set duration. Depending on the marriage length, alimony may last as follows: for marriages of zero to five years, up to 50% of the marriage length; up to 10 years, 60%; up to 15 years, 70%; and up to 20 years, 80%. For marriages exceeding 20 years, alimony can be indefinite, though it generally ends when the payor reaches Social Security retirement age. If the recipient still requires support at that time, they may petition the court for an extension, but typically, alimony concludes when the payor reaches the applicable Social Security retirement age.