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 (referred to as spouses) upon divorce. Financial support paid by one spouse to the other spouse while the divorce is pending is often called temporary support.

The law regarding eligibility for spousal support—including the number of years payments must be made and the amount of the payments—often depends on factors such as the length of the marriage, the spouses’ relative earning capacities, the dependent spouse’s education and employment skills, the time a dependent spouse needs to obtain sufficient education or training, and whether there was family violence in the marriage.

Spousal support payments are generally taxable income to the person receiving the payments and deductible for the person making the payments. Such payments generally terminate upon (1) the end of the court-ordered award or payment period; (2) the death of either spouse; or (3) the remarriage of the spouse receiving the payments. And in some states the court may terminate the payments if the spouse receiving payments cohabits (lives) with another person with whom they have a romantic relationship.

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

In Alabama, alimony, also known as spousal support, is financial assistance provided by one spouse to the other following a divorce. The state's laws consider several factors when determining eligibility for alimony, including the length of the marriage, the financial circumstances of each spouse, the standard of living established during the marriage, and the time necessary for the receiving spouse to become self-sufficient through education or training. Alabama law recognizes different types of alimony, such as periodic alimony, which is regular payments over time, and alimony in gross, which is a lump-sum payment. Alimony payments are typically considered taxable income for the recipient and tax-deductible for the payer, according to federal tax laws. However, this changed for divorce or separation agreements executed after December 31, 2018, due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which eliminated the deduction for alimony payments and the requirement to report alimony as income. Alimony obligations generally end when the recipient remarries or cohabits with a romantic partner, upon the death of either party, or at the end of a specified period as determined by the court. It's important to note that Alabama courts have the discretion to modify or terminate alimony based on a material change in circumstances.