Family law
Spousal maintenance
Texas termTexas's term for court-ordered spousal support: periodic payments from one spouse's future income to support the other after a divorce.[1]
In more detail
Texas sets its own eligibility rules, amount limits and time limits for maintenance in Chapter 8 of the Family Code.[1]
Varies by state
Texas uses maintenance; Florida and many other states say alimony. Find your state’s rules.
Related terms
- AlimonyMoney a court may order one spouse to pay the other during or after a divorce.
- Temporary alimonySupport one spouse may be ordered to pay the other while the divorce case is still going on, before the final judgment.
- ModificationA court's change to an existing order, such as child support, alimony or a parenting plan, usually because circumstances have substantially changed.
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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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MediationList. (2026, October 28). Spousal maintenance: Definition. https://mediationlist.com/glossary/spousal-maintenance/
APA 7th ed. A retrieval date is included only for pages whose content changes, such as maps, data and tools.