What is alimony and when can it be granted?
Alimony, also called spousal maintenance or spousal support; is a court-ordered allowance to be paid from one former spouse to the other. Alimony is typically awarded to serve three purposes: to provide permanent support for a needy former spouse; to provide temporary support to allow a former spouse to acquire education or training that will enable him or her to become self-sufficient; or, to provide a means of achieving an equitable distribution of the marital property. Although a court may order periodic alimony payments or a lump-sum, or both, the courts usually require the payment of a fixed monthly amount.
