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 Michigan, spousal support, also known as alimony, is financial assistance provided by one spouse to the other following a divorce. The purpose of spousal support is to balance the economic effects of a divorce by providing a continuing income to a non-wage-earning or lower-wage-earning spouse. The determination of alimony in Michigan is not based on a strict formula; instead, courts consider a variety of factors such as the length of the marriage, the parties' age and health, their ability to work, their standard of living during the marriage, and the contributions of each party to the marital estate. Either party can request a modification of the spousal support order if there is a 'material change in circumstances' that justifies an increase or decrease in the amount of support. This could include changes in employment, health conditions, or living expenses. The modification process typically requires showing the court that the change is significant and ongoing, not temporary or minor.