Difference Between Alimony and Spousal Support

Alimony vs Spousal Support

Alimony and spousal support are one and the same. Both the words refer to the same thing. Alimony and spousal support is the payment given to a spouse as compensation to the spouse’s contribution to the home or for the development of the spouse’s career or given to make up for the financial problems of the other.

One cannot come across any difference between Alimony and spousal support. In some places, alimony is used and in some other places spousal support is used.

Alimony can be called as a type of spousal support. Alimony is the common term that is used now instead of spousal support. Earlier spousal support was used very commonly. The court awards alimony or spousal support with an aim to maintain the standard of living that both the spouses used to have during the marriage.

Alimony or spousal support is mainly divided into four heads. They are temporary alimony, rehabilitative alimony, permanent alimony and reimbursement alimony. Temporary alimony is given to a spouse before the two gets separated. Rehabilitative Alimony is one that is given to a lesser earning spouse till one becomes self-sufficient. Permanent Alimony is also given to lesser earning spouse till the death of either one of them or till remarriage of the alimony recipient. Reimbursement Alimony is given as reimbursement for the expenses incurred by a spouse during the time of marriage.

When talking of Alimony and spousal support, it differs from one region to another. The Alimony and spousal support laws of a particular land may not be in vogue in another land.

Alimony is a term that is derived from Latin alimonia, which means sustenance to assure the wife’s lodging, clothing, food and other necessities after separation.

Summary

1. Alimony and spousal support are one and the same.

2. Alimony is the common term that is used now instead of spousal support. Earlier spousal support was used very commonly.

3. Alimony and spousal support is the payment given to a spouse as compensation to the spouse’s contribution to the home or for the development of the spouse’s career or given to make up for the financial problems of the other.

4. The Alimony and spousal support laws of a particular land may not be in vogue in another land.

5. Alimony is a term that is derived from Latin alimonia, which means sustenance to assure the wife’s lodging, clothing, food and other necessities after separation.

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