Alimony, spousal support, spousal maintenance, or domestic partner support (collectively, spousal support) is generally financial support in the form of periodic payments (usually monthly) paid by one spouse or domestic partner to the other spouse or domestic partner upon divorce.

The person paying spousal support or the person receiving spousal support may seek to modify the court’s order for support—usually by increasing it or decreasing it—due to a material change in circumstances of the person paying support or the person receiving support.

Spousal support laws vary from state to state and are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the family or domestic code.

In Georgia, alimony, also known as spousal support, is financial assistance provided by one spouse to the other during or after a divorce. The purpose of alimony is to mitigate the economic effects of divorce by providing a continuing income to a non-wage-earning or lower-wage-earning spouse. Under Georgia law, either spouse can request alimony. The court considers several factors when determining alimony, including the standard of living during the marriage, the duration of the marriage, the financial resources of each spouse, and the contributions of each spouse to the marriage, including homemaking and child care. Alimony can be awarded on a temporary or permanent basis and can take the form of periodic payments or a lump sum. Modifications to alimony orders in Georgia can be made if there is a showing of a substantial change in the income or financial status of either former spouse. It's important to note that Georgia does not recognize domestic partnerships in the same way as some other states, and therefore, the concept of spousal support does not apply to domestic partners in Georgia.