Glossary
Rule of 65
The Rule of 65 says spousal support is often indefinite when the recipient's age plus the length of the marriage adds up to 65 or more at the date of separation.
The SSAG framework normally caps spousal support duration at the length of the relationship (often half to all of it). The Rule of 65 is an exception: if you are 55 and were married for 15 years (55 + 15 = 70), you usually get indefinite support — meaning no fixed end date. Indefinite does not mean forever. Support still ends on a material change of circumstances: payor retires, recipient remarries or becomes self-sufficient, one party dies, or income changes significantly. The rule recognizes that an older spouse with limited working years left is unlikely to rebuild financial independence after a long marriage.
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