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 Maryland, alimony, also known as spousal support, is financial assistance provided by one spouse to another after a divorce. The purpose of alimony is to help the recipient spouse maintain a standard of living similar to that enjoyed during the marriage, particularly if there is a significant disparity in earning potential or income between the spouses. Maryland courts consider several factors when determining alimony, including the duration of the marriage, the standard of living established during the marriage, the contributions of each party to the well-being of the family, and the circumstances that led to the end of the marriage. Alimony can be awarded for a definite or indefinite period, depending on the circumstances. Either party can later request a modification of the alimony order if there is a material change in circumstances, such as a significant change in income or financial needs. The modification process requires the party seeking the change to demonstrate that the circumstances have changed substantially and that the current alimony order is no longer appropriate. Maryland's statutes regarding alimony can be found in the Family Law Article of the Maryland Code.