"Alimony, also called aliment (Scotland), maintenance (England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, Canada, New Zealand), spousal support (U.S., Canada) and spouse maintenance (Australia)..."
Ongoing financial support provided by one spouse to the other after separation or divorce.
Definition of Spousal support: Understand what spousal support is, also known as alimony, and the different types of spousal support.
Eligibility: Understand who is eligible to receive or pay spousal support and under what circumstances.
Factors considered in determining spousal support: Understand the different criteria that are taken into consideration when determining spousal support, such as the duration of the marriage, the financial positions of both spouses and their roles during the marriage, and the age and health of both spouses.
Duration of spousal support: Understand what factors impact the duration of spousal support, including the length of the marriage, the age and health of the spouses and any extenuating circumstances.
Modification and Termination: Understand circumstances where spousal support can be modified or terminated, such as a change in financial circumstances or remarriage.
Tax implications of spousal support: Understand how spousal support payments are taxed and how this affects both the payor and the recipient.
Enforcement of spousal support: Understand how spousal support payments can be enforced if there is non-payment, including legal action and wage garnishments.
Calculation of spousal support: Understand how spousal support is calculated, including the different formulas used and the factors that impact the calculation.
Comparison of different types of spousal support: Understand the differences between temporary, rehabilitative, and permanent spousal support, and when each type is appropriate.
Role of lawyers and mediators: Understand the role of legal professionals and mediators in negotiating and implementing spousal support agreements.
International law and spousal support: Understand how spousal support laws vary by country and the implications for international couples.
Future of spousal support: Emerging trends and changes to spousal support laws and policies in different countries.
Critiques of spousal support: Understand criticisms of spousal support laws and policies, as well as potential reforms to address these criticisms.
Impact of spousal support on families: Understand the impact that spousal support can have on family dynamics and the role that spousal support plays in supporting families during and after a divorce.
Legal and ethical considerations: Understand the legal and ethical issues involved in determining spousal support and the implications for all parties involved.
Temporary spousal support: A type of spousal support that is awarded to a spouse during the divorce proceedings in order to maintain his or her standard of living until a final decision is made.
Rehabilitative spousal support: A type of spousal support that is awarded to a spouse for a specific period of time, usually to enable him or her to become self-sufficient through education, training or work experience.
Permanent spousal support: Refers to a long-term type of spousal support that is awarded to a spouse until his or her death or remarriage. This is usually awarded in cases where one spouse has significantly more income or assets than the other, and the latter is unable to maintain a reasonable standard of living without assistance.
Transitional spousal support: Similar to rehabilitative spousal support but is intended to help a spouse transition from a marriage to a single life, such as helping with the expenses involved in relocating, establishing a new home, or finding a job.
Reimbursement spousal support: A type of spousal support awarded to a spouse when the other spouse is obligated to repay the amount of money he or she spent in supporting the former spouse during a marriage, such as educational expenses or a contribution to career advancement.
Lump-sum spousal support: A one-time, fixed amount of spousal support that is ordered to be paid in a single payment or in installments within a specific period of time.
In-kind spousal support: This involves the division of property or goods rather than the payment of cash, e.g. mandatory transfer of the house, cars or any other property to one of the spouses.
Non-modifiable spousal support: This type of spousal support cannot be changed or modified, even if the financial circumstances of the payor or payee change significantly.
Nominal spousal support: This type of spousal support provides a minimal amount of financial assistance (usually $1 per year) so that the court retains jurisdiction over the case in the event that substantial changes in the circumstances occur, allowing the court to effectively modify or terminate the order.
Coverture fraction spousal support: Refers to a formula that determines the duration of spousal support based on the length of the marriage, i.e. the fraction of the marriage during which the spouses cohabited, also known as the marital coverture or the time between the marriage and the separation, to help in determining an appropriate amount of spousal support.
Adjunct spousal support: A type of spousal support awarded to a spouse in addition to child support to cover the additional expenses incurred as a result of the child's needs.
Customized spousal support: This type of spousal support is tailored to meet the unique needs of the parties involved in the specific case. It may include a combination of different types of spousal support as agreed upon by both parties or ordered by the court.
"...is a legal obligation on a person to provide financial support to their spouse before or after marital separation or divorce."
"Alimony, also called aliment (Scotland), maintenance (England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, Canada, New Zealand), spousal support (U.S., Canada) and spouse maintenance (Australia)..."
"The obligation arises from the divorce law or family law of each country."
"In most jurisdictions, it is distinct from child support, where, after divorce, one parent is required to contribute to the support of their children by paying money to the child's other parent or guardian."