Alimony, spousal support, spousal maintenance, or domestic partner support (collectively, spousal support) is generally financial support in the form of periodic payments (usually monthly) paid by one spouse or domestic partner to the other spouse or domestic partner upon divorce.

The person paying spousal support or the person receiving spousal support may seek to modify the court’s order for support—usually by increasing it or decreasing it—due to a material change in circumstances of the person paying support or the person receiving support.

Spousal support laws vary from state to state and are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the family or domestic code.

In Alabama, alimony, also known as spousal support, is financial assistance provided by one spouse to the other following a divorce. The purpose of alimony is to mitigate the economic disparity between the spouses resulting from the end of the marriage. Alabama courts may award different types of alimony: periodic alimony, which is regular payments over a set period; rehabilitative alimony, which is for a shorter term to help a spouse become self-supporting; or alimony in gross, which is a one-time lump sum payment. The amount and duration of alimony are determined based on several factors, including the length of the marriage, the financial needs and resources of each spouse, the standard of living during the marriage, and the age and health of the parties. Either party can request a modification of the alimony order if there is a material change in circumstances, such as a significant change in income or employment status. The modification process requires the party seeking the change to file a motion with the court that originally granted the alimony, and the court will decide whether the change in circumstances justifies an adjustment of the support amount.