Tish - some states have alimony. When one person in the marriage has not worked for a period of time, the courts allow them to ease back into the work force. This used to be mainly for stay at home mom's and support was paid indefinately (until person getting the money remarried or died), my grandfather paid alimony to his ex-wife until he died, 40+ years after the divorce. He had full custody of the kids, a rarity at the time, she just up and left them all.

Sometime in the 80s (I think) it became common for men to sue for alimony (called maintenance in my state) when the wives had been the main money earners. So whether or not they have the kids, they get money for a certain period of time based upon the length of the marriage and period of time out of work. "So they can get back on their feet."