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 Oregon, spousal support, also known as alimony, is financial assistance that one spouse may be required to provide to the other following a divorce or legal separation. The purpose of spousal support is to help the recipient spouse maintain a standard of living similar to that enjoyed during the marriage, especially if there is a significant disparity in earning capacity between the spouses. Oregon law recognizes three types of spousal support: transitional, compensatory, and maintenance. Transitional support assists a spouse in obtaining education or training necessary to re-enter the workforce. Compensatory support may be awarded to a spouse who has made significant contributions to the other spouse's education, training, vocational skills, or earning capacity. Maintenance support is more long-term and is based on factors such as the duration of the marriage, the standard of living established during the marriage, and the age and health of both parties. Either party can request a modification of spousal support if there is a material change in circumstances, such as a significant change in income, employment status, or the financial needs of either party. The modification process typically requires showing the court that the change is substantial and was not anticipated at the time of the original support order. The specific statutes governing spousal support in Oregon can be found in the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS), particularly in the sections dealing with domestic relations.