Family law
Alimony
Also called spousal support or maintenance
Money a court may order one spouse to pay the other during or after a divorce. Florida law lists temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative and durational alimony.[1]
In more detail
In Florida, the court first decides whether one spouse actually needs support and the other can pay, then weighs factors such as the length of the marriage.[1] Texas calls court-ordered spousal support maintenance: periodic payments from one spouse's future income for the other's support.[2] Spouses can also agree on support in mediation, within the limits their state allows.
Varies by state
Types, formulas, time limits and even the name of spousal support differ by state. Find your state’s rules.
Related terms
- Bridge-the-gap alimonyIn Florida, short-term alimony to help a spouse with specific, identifiable needs while moving from married to single life.
- Rehabilitative alimonyIn Florida, alimony to help a spouse become self-supporting by redeveloping old skills or getting education, training or work experience.
- Durational alimonyIn Florida, alimony that gives a spouse financial help for a set period.
- Temporary alimonySupport one spouse may be ordered to pay the other while the divorce case is still going on, before the final judgment.
- Spousal maintenanceTexas's term for court-ordered spousal support: periodic payments from one spouse's future income to support the other after a divorce.
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Sources
The official documents this definition is based on, with the date we last read each one. Definitions are in our own words.
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Cite this page
MediationList. (2026, October 28). Alimony: Definition. https://mediationlist.com/glossary/alimony/
APA 7th ed. A retrieval date is included only for pages whose content changes, such as maps, data and tools.