Hingham, MA family law attorney James M. Lynch explains who qualifies for alimony in Massachusetts. He explains that alimony typically applies to spouses who earn less than the other spouse, but eligibility depends on several circumstances. The two primary threshold factors are the need of the party seeking alimony and the corresponding ability of the other spouse to pay. For example, if both parties have similar earning histories and comparable incomes, alimony is unlikely. Additionally, if child support and the financial needs of the children consume most of the marital resources, alimony is also less likely. In short, both need and the ability to pay must be present for alimony to be awarded.