How does alimony work both short and long term?

I am so sorry for your situation.  Alimony is also known as maintenance and spousal support and comes in different shapes and sizes.  Support payments can influence the distribution of marital assets so you need to be aware of that from the get go. You and your spouse can come to an agreement as to the amount and the court will indeed abide by it.  If you two can not agree, here is the statute in which the decision y the court will be based.  Remember it is done on a case by case basis.  It can be temporary, or for a long duration or rehabilitative or a combination of them all.  Good luck to you.

Without regard to marital misconduct, the court will award maintenance in a lump sum or for a fixed or indefinite period of time, and the maintenance may be paid from the income or property of the other spouse after consideration of all relevant factors, including: (A) the income and assets of each party; (B) the financial needs of each party; (C) the earning capacity of each party; (D) any impairment of the present and future earning capacity of the party seeking maintenance due to that party devoting time to domestic duties or having forgone or delayed education, training, employment, or career opportunities due to the marriage; (E) the time necessary for the receiving party to seek employment (F) the standard of living established while married; (G) the length of the marriage; (H) the age and health condition of both parties; (I) the tax ramifications of the property award upon the respective economic circumstances of the parties; (J) contributions and services by the party seeking maintenance to the education, training, career or career potential, or license of the other spouse; (K) any valid mutual agreement of the parties; and (L) any other factor that the court expressly finds. (750 Illinois Compiled Statutes - Chapter 5 - Sections: 504)