Spousal Support or Alimony in a Divorce process.
Spousal support as it is currently known, used to be called alimony. In most States, spousal support is not mandatory but can be ordered by a judge under specific circumstances.
If a spouse may face a hardship without financial support from another spouse after the divorce, spousal support may be considered. The deciding factor for spousal support is the need to maintain the spouse’s customary standard of living after the divorce. To put it differently, the law recognizes that a husband or wife should not be forced to live at a level below the one enjoyed during the marriage. The judge may order a spouse to provide spousal supports after the divorce, considering a number of factors to determing how much and during what length of time it should be provided.
