Spousal Maintenance, Alimony and Spousal Support – Is There a Difference?

If you’re facing a divorce, it might seem as if there are too many legal terms to remember, which can cause a lot of confusion at first.  But when you work with a divorce lawyer, he or she can explain the difference between spousal support, alimony and spousal maintenance.

Working with an experienced attorney will give you insight about each of these types of support, all of which may play an important role in your future.  According to a recent article published by the Marrison Law Firm, “What are the Differences between Alimony, Spousal Support and Spousal Maintenance?,” there are some very subtle differences between the three.

Alimony is a sum of money paid to an ex-spouse, which is often ordered before the divorce becomes final and extended for a period of time thereafter.  A spouse who is receiving money from alimony is usually the one who depended on the other spouse to meet their standard of living during the marriage.  Today, alimony is more commonly known as spousal support or spousal maintenance, but it is not necessarily permanent unless it is designed to be that way.

Permanent alimony is usually paid until the death of the paying spouse or the remarriage of the recipient, but there are some instances where alimony is paid even after the recipient remarries.  Oftentimes, permanent alimony is awarded to a spouse who becomes disabled or in divorces after a particularly long marriage.  One thing to keep in mind is that unlike other types of support, alimony is taxable, so carefully consider the consequences before accepting a lump sum of alimony.

Spousal maintenance can also take the form of temporary alimony, which refers to a short-term form of support intended to prevent financial hardship on one spouse during a divorce.  It is usually awarded until such time that the lower-income spouse can recover financially.

Rehabilitative alimony might be given to a spouse in cases where he or she needs help paying for job training or college tuition, as a way of making that spouse more marketable in the job market.  Wives who have stayed home for many years raising children might be awarded this type of spousal maintenance until they can find a job that pays well.

To find out more about the various forms of spousal maintenance and how they work, work with a Colorado Springs divorce attorney.