What Is Alimony (Spousal Support)?

Alimony, also called spousal support or maintenance, is court-ordered payment from one spouse to the other to address economic disparities following divorce.

Types of alimony:

Temporary — Paid during the divorce proceedings to maintain the status quo.

Rehabilitative — Supports the receiving spouse while they gain education or training to become self-sufficient.

Permanent — Ongoing payments, typically in long-term marriages where one spouse cannot become self-supporting.

Lump-sum — A one-time payment instead of periodic payments.

Reimbursement — Compensates a spouse who supported the other through education or career advancement.

Factors courts consider:

Length of the marriage

Each spouse's income and earning capacity

Standard of living during the marriage

Age and health of both spouses

Contributions to the marriage (including homemaking and child-rearing)

Education and employment history

Assets and debts of each spouse

Duration. The length of alimony often correlates with the length of the marriage. Short marriages may result in limited alimony. Long marriages (typically 10+ years) may warrant longer or permanent support.

Modification and termination. Alimony can often be modified if there is a substantial change in circumstances, such as job loss or retirement. It typically terminates upon the death of either party, remarriage of the recipient, or by the terms of the agreement.

Tax implications. Under current federal law, alimony is not deductible by the payer and not taxable to the recipient for agreements executed after 2018.

This is legal information, not legal advice.