All states have different divorce laws for alimony payments and arrangements, and some really aim to limit the claims a spouse can make on their former husband or wife. Most divorce laws and alimony payments actually begin long before the divorce is finalized. For example, a spouse may make a claim for financial support during a period of legal separation or in the months leading up to their divorce litigation. In some states the divorce laws for alimony provide a judge with a great deal of discretion, but in others the rulings are very limited. For instance, the age of a spouse, their health, potential for gainful employment, responsibilities for children from the marriage, and other issues can all affect the amount of financial support made available to them during and after the divorce.