Unlike child support, in general North Carolina law provides no formula for determining the amount or duration of alimony. In this blog our family law attorney will talk about alimony and child support and how they are different from each other.A North Carolina Family Attorney Can Help. If you need to figure out child support and alimony during your separation, call Breeden Law Office. North Carolina doesn't provide a formula for calculating postseparation support or alimony. North Carolina generally dislikes awarding alimony or post-separation support. To do so, you must establish that you are the dependent spouse. If you are struggling with child support or alimony, we at King Law are here to listen and empathize. To receive alimony, you need to file a request with the court. The court will then determine which spouse is dependent and who is the supporting spouse.