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 Mississippi, alimony, also known as spousal support, is financial assistance provided by one spouse to another following a divorce. The state recognizes several types of alimony: periodic alimony, lump-sum alimony, rehabilitative alimony, and reimbursement alimony. Periodic alimony is the most common form, involving regular payments over a period of time. Mississippi courts consider various factors when determining alimony, including the length of the marriage, the standard of living during the marriage, each spouse's income and expenses, and the presence of any marital misconduct. After an alimony order is in place, either party can request a modification if there is a significant change in circumstances that affects the ability of the paying spouse to pay or the financial needs of the receiving spouse. Such changes might include a substantial increase or decrease in income, loss of employment, or serious health issues. The modification process requires the party seeking the change to file a petition with the court that originally granted the alimony, and the court will evaluate whether the change in circumstances justifies an adjustment to the support order.