What is alimony?

Alimony, also known as spousal support, is a form of financial assistance that one former spouse provides another after a divorce. This type of payment is meant to help the receiving spouse maintain the standard of living they enjoyed while they were married. In California, alimony is generally awarded to the spouse in need of financial assistance, usually the spouse with lower income or a lower earning potential. Alimony may be awarded on a temporary basis to provide financial support while the receiving spouse searches for or retrains for employment, or it can be awarded on a permanent basis. The amount and duration of alimony payments can vary and depend on the circumstances of each situation. These payments may be treated as income for tax purposes, which means adjustment deductions may be available for the payer of the alimony and the recipient may need to include the payment as income. The court may also order property transfers from one spouse to another in lieu of alimony payments.

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What is alimony?

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