What is palimony and how is one eligible?

Answer 1

Palimony settlements are for unmarried partners who seek financial compensation similar to alimony at the dissolution of a marriage. There must be proof that one partner promised to provide financial support to the other through a written, oral or implied contract. Laws vary in different jurisdictions.

A landmark case in the United States was Marvin v Marvin. Lee Marvin's live-in partner was awarded compensation in California in 1976 but that award was later nullified on appeal. In 1986 Liberace settled a palimony suit filed by his former live in chauffeur and secretary. Palimony is awarded to a successful plaintiff in a civil suit and is a difficult and expensive to prove.

While alimony and palimony may seem to mirror each other, palimony is treated as a sort of contract. There must be evidence of an implied or express promise from one partner to support the other while receiving something in return such as intimate companionship, domestic support, maintaining the household, etc.

Read Marvin v. Marvin, 557 P.2d 106 (Cal. 1976) and see subsequent decisions at related links below.