how long do u reasomably have to pay alimony

my husband is getting cleaned out litteraly between alimony and child support and a constant flow of additional bills coming in for payment from his ex. she is a young women and has been given alimony till she dies or gets married how long is alimony realisticly given i work very hard and would never think of putting someone through that forever to get someone on there feet is sufficent i think but she wants it forever and does not want to improve any job skills so she can better things on her own. she says she does not have to he is obligated but for how long. we will probably be married longer than they were. she receives 1700.00 a month from him and is still complaing this is not enough. he could not support himself on his own if he had to. three fourths of his check is gone. please answere i am severly confused. I beleive in supporting your children and doing the right thing but when is enough enough

You don't give a state so I cannot give you statutory answers, but sometimes people do wind up paying forever.....unless:

the person who is paying decides to bring a motion to amend the order to lower it/cancel the support based on solid facts: her ability to earn a living, her unwillingness to work, etc.

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I am a law school graduate. What I offer is mere information, not to be construed as forming an attorney client relationship.