Legal Definitions - spousal support

Spousal support, also known as alimony, is a type of monetary support that one former spouse pays to the other after a divorce. This payment is usually made for a specific period of time and is determined by a divorce agreement or court order.

• John and Jane got divorced, and as part of their divorce agreement, John was ordered to pay Jane $500 a month in spousal support for three years.
• After their divorce, Sarah was struggling to make ends meet, so her ex-husband agreed to pay her $1,000 a month in spousal support until she could get back on her feet.

These examples illustrate how spousal support works in practice. In both cases, one former spouse is paying the other a set amount of money each month for a specific period of time. This payment is meant to help the receiving spouse maintain their standard of living after the divorce.