Bill > AB681

This bill amends Section 4320 of the Family Code, which outlines the factors a court must consider when ordering spousal support, also known as alimony. The key change is the addition of a new provision, labeled as "(l)", which clarifies the goal of spousal support is for the supported party to become self-supporting within a reasonable timeframe. This "reasonable period of time" is generally defined as half the length of the marriage, unless it's a marriage of long duration as described in another section (Section 4336). However, the bill emphasizes that this is a guideline and the court retains discretion to order support for a longer or shorter period based on all the other factors listed in the law and the specific circumstances of the parties involved.