What is Spousal Maintenance also known as?

Spousal maintenance is commonly referred to as alimony. This term is used to describe the financial support that one spouse may be required to pay to the other during or after a divorce. The purpose of alimony is to ensure that the receiving spouse can maintain a standard of living that is comparable to what they were accustomed to during the marriage, particularly when one spouse may have been financially dependent on the other.

Alimony can take various forms, such as temporary support during divorce proceedings or permanent support after the divorce is finalized. The determination of alimony often considers several factors, including the length of the marriage, the earning capacity of both spouses, and the standard of living established during the marriage, among others.

The other terms listed do not accurately describe spousal maintenance. Child support refers specifically to payments made for the financial support of children. The division of assets pertains to the equitable distribution of marital property between spouses during a divorce. Financial maintenance, while similar in concept, is not the commonly used term in legal contexts and does not have the same established recognition as alimony.